CEREBRAL INHIBITION 



49 



rhythmic movement of the legs of millipedes. I found 

 that the " phases " of forward and backward swing are 

 presented in groups of twelve pairs of legs, each pair of 

 legs being in the same phase of movement as the twelfth 

 pair beyond it. But instantaneous photography would 

 give complete certainty about the movement in this case, 

 and in the case of the even more beautiful " rippling " 

 movement of the legs of some of the marine worms. 

 Some kindly photographer might take up the investiga- 

 tion and prepare a series of films. The problem is 

 raised and the effects of " cerebral inhibition " described 

 in a little poem which I am told we owe to the author 

 of " Lorna Doone." As it is not widely known, I give 

 it here as a record of " cerebral inhibition " : 



" A centipede was happy 'til 

 One day a toad in fun 



Said, ' Pray which leg moves after which ? ' 

 This raised her doubts to such a pitch 

 She fell exhausted in the ditch, 

 Not knowing how to run." 



The point, of course, is that she could execute the 

 complex movement of her legs well enough until her 

 brain was set to work and her conscious attention given 

 to the matter. Then " cerebral inhibition " took place 

 and she broke down. 



20. Colour-photography and Photographs of Mars 



There were admirable photographs of wild birds and 

 their nests, and of insects and plants in this exhibition. 

 I saw the new Lumiere coloured transparent photographs 

 thrown by a lantern on the screen, and could distinguish 

 the dots of red, green, and violet colour on what, at a 

 little distance, appeared to be a brilliantly white part of 

 the picture (the shirt collar of a " sitter"), just as one 



