82 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



tion of the lower order of intelligences, as manifested 

 in the production of fanciful forms. The corallines 

 present a strange combination of the mineral, vegeta- 

 ble, and animal kingdoms, being petrous in the com- 

 position of their tree-like stalks- and branches, and 

 decidedly animal in their soft tissues. 



. A true coral bud is the shell, case, or house of a 

 real polyp, and is developed with the growth and ac- 

 tivities of the animal, just as the carapace becomes 

 part of a tortoise, only the tiny radiate elaborates its 

 habitation from marine salts ; and to do this it must 

 possess central or axial neurine, with volition or per- 

 sonality that is akin to consciousness. A plant or tree 

 has no such neural center, yet a sponge, which is 

 plant-like in form and development, possesses animal 

 matter of a colloid character in its tubules, with no 

 visible signs of a neural admixture. However, there 

 is reason to suppose that the gelatinous flesh of a 

 spongiole is not absolutely nerveless. In fact, it is 

 difficult to conceive of living flesh without presuming 

 the presence of nerve influence. In starfishes, as well 

 as in all radiates and insects, there exists a series of 

 neural knots that act as batteries for the generation 

 or production of nerve forces. In regard to a clam, 

 oyster, or other mollusk, it can not be said that a 

 head exists, yet where the neural knots are placed 

 near together, generally in pairs, there is the cephalic 

 center or the seat of volition or " personality " already 

 alluded to. From that leading and controlling center 

 nervous impulses go out, and to it impressions flow 

 for recognition. For all practical purposes it is a 

 brain. Without that ideal " head " or center of neural 

 activity, there can be no complete and independent 

 personality no volition or purpose in the display of 



