July, 1894. 



OBITUARY. 



73 



the study of function ; and he investigated the anatomy of these 

 organisms much less than their physiology. Although his work on 

 them was not sufficiently minute or accurate to rank him among 

 morphological specialists, it led him to the equally important study 

 of mental phenomena in animals. Darwin left to him many 

 unpublished notes on Animal Psychology, and upon these, as well 

 as upon his own investigations, were founded the volume upon 

 " Mental Evolution in Animals," and a later volume on the " Origin 

 of Human Faculty." These books have been the occasion of much 

 controversy, but unquestionably they are greater contributions to Com- 

 parative Psychology, and hence to the study of the mind of man, than 

 most psychologists were ready to admit. We prophesy that, as 

 now Psychology has abandoned its concubinage with Metaphysic for 

 a fertile union with Physiology, Professor Romanes's work will 

 receive a place more important than that presently assigned to it. 



George John Romanes. 



His contributions to Biological Theory are perhaps the least im- 

 portant part of his works. His theory of physiological segregation 

 was ingenious, but it was based on far too little observation to bear 

 the superstructure he raised on it. In his controversies in various 

 periodicals, he was more apt at arguing over verbal points, and laying 

 stress on "logical inconsistencies," than at appreciating the facts which 

 gave origin to the theories in question. We have had occasion in 

 Natural Science to point out in several instances what we thought 

 defects in his arguments. But it is just and pleasant to add that he 

 was very ready to modify his own views or his conception of the 

 views of others when the stress of facts lay against him, and that this 

 logical acumen served often to expose concealed weaknesses in the 

 arguments of others. 



In later years Professor Romanes was conducting a variety of 



