INDIVIDUALITY. 251 



only by shoots or axes ; yet, in some cases, as in that of the 

 Begonia-leaf awhile since mentioned, the appendage of an 

 axis, or even a small fragment of such appendage, is capable 

 of initiating and carrying on the functions of life; and in 

 other cases, as shown by M. Naudin in the Drosera inter 

 media, young plants are occasionally developed from the sur 

 faces of leaves. Nor among forms like the compound 

 Ilydrozoa, does the definition enable us to decide where the 

 line is to be drawn between the individuality of the group 

 and the individualities of the members: merging into each 

 other, as these do, in different degrees. But, as before said, 

 such difficulties must necessarily present themselves if organic 

 forms have arisen by insensible gradations. We must be 

 content with a course which commits us to the smallest 

 number of incongruities; and this course is, to consider as 

 an individual any organized mass which is capable of inde 

 pendently carrying on that continuous adjustment of inner to 

 outer relations which constitutes Life. 



