[mills] development OF COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY 199 



chronous impression dysynchronous in their effects and dysynchronous 

 impressions synchronous, which statement is but a paraphrase of the 

 original,— -the function of consciousness is to dislocate in time the re- 

 actions from the sensations." 



" Our eyes, ears, taste, etc., are available because they supply con- 

 sciousness with data. Our nerves, muscles, bones, etc., are available 

 because they enable consciousness to effect the needed reactions." His 

 view of animal consciousness is thus forcibly expressed: "The con- 

 ception of homology, both of structure and of function lies at the base 

 of all biological science, which must be and remain incomprehensible 

 to any mind not thoroughly imbued with this conception. Unless those 

 who are deficient in this respect can fail to understand that the evi- 

 dence is overwhelming that animals have a consciousness homologous 

 with the human consciousness, the proof is conclusive. As regards at 

 least mammals — I think we can safely say as regards vertebrates — the 

 proof is the whole sum of our knowledge of the structure, functions and 

 life of these animals. As we descend the animal scale, to lower animals 

 there is no break and therefore no point in the descent where we can 

 say here animal consciousness ends and animals below are without it. 

 It seems inevitable therefore to admit that consciousness extends far 

 down throiigh the animal kingdom, certainly at least as far down as 

 there are animals with sense organs, or even the most rudimentary 

 nervous system. It is unsatisfactory to rely chiefly on the anatomical 

 evidence for the answer to our query. We await eagerly the results 

 from psychological experiments on the lower vertebrates. A sense 

 organ, however, implies consciousness, and since such organs occur 

 among cœlenterates, we are ready to assign consciousness to these ani- 

 mals." 



" The series of considerations which we have had before us lead 

 directly to the conclusion that the development and improvement of 

 consciousness has been the most important, really the dominating factor 

 in the evolution of the animal series." 



iMinot is of those who would not deny consciousness absolutely to 

 even vegetable organisms, for he says : " A frank unbiased study of con- 

 sciousness must convince every biologist that it is one of the funda- 

 mental phenomena of at least animal life, if not, as is quite .possible, of 

 all life." 



On adjustment and communication between individuals he thus 

 expresses himself: "It is interesting to consider the evolution of adjust- 

 ment to external reality in its broadest features. In the lowest animals 

 the range of the possible adjustment is very limited. In them not only 

 is a variety of possible actions small, but they cover also a small period 



