10 



why, we may ask, are the lower members of the animal 

 creation to be denied analogous effects from the same 

 causes ? 



We are often told that the Annulosa present so many 

 anomalies in their organization, that we cannot apply 

 the argument of analogy, when reasoning on their struc- 

 ture and attributes ; and that we must consequently be 

 content to leave it an open question, as to whether or 

 not they possess anything in common with the Verte- 

 brata, or can be presumed to be acted upon, by external 

 agencies, in at all a similar manner. Now, whilst there 

 is clearly some truth in this assertion (especially as 

 regards the senses of insects, which must ever remain a 

 subject of obscurity), I contend that to accept it in all 

 its fullness would be in the highest degree unphiloso- 

 phical; whilst, to endorse it to the extent which even 

 its partial advocates do insist upon, would at once 

 involve us in a host of difficulties (affecting other de- 

 partments of natural science), the very existence of 

 which they have themselves tacitly repudiated. 



" Creation," says one of our most intelligent writers 

 of modern times, " is full of analogies, pointing to one 

 general originator, and linking all sentient things into 

 one great family of related fellow- creatures :" and 

 there is an amount of sagacity in the remark which it 

 would be wise for us to digest. Throughout the whole 

 of animated nature, it is impossible not to perceive that 

 certain circumstances do, in the main, produce certain 

 results. They may often fail to produce them, and the 



