426 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



like the ruins of old cities, dwellings and tools once used 

 by man, are a record and history of the past ages where 

 each one can read and study for himself what has taken 

 place in the past history of life. These ruins, however, 

 are in no wise as interesting as the living beings which 

 have left no ruins, like insect life and others. 



Let us consider for a moment the subject of protective 

 coloring. Some caterpillars not only color themselves 

 the color of the objects on which they rest, but in many 

 cases they change their shape so as to simulate some other 

 object, like leaves, twigs, etc. This illustration by Mr. 

 Schulte (Fig. 50) is a good example of what they can do. 

 You notice in this picture how closely the caterpillar is 

 able to imitate a young twig, both in color, size and gen- 

 eral appearance. Man has just begun to understand the 

 great advantage of using these tricks of protective color- 

 ing to deceive his enemies in battle. Colors intended to 

 deceive the enemy are now being used on battleships, 

 soldiers and artillery. The cell which builds and directs 

 this caterpillar and the cell which builds and directs the 

 actions of man, cannot be distinguished, one from the 

 other, under the most powerful microscope. There can 

 be no difference between the purpose, wisdom and fore- 

 sight exhibited by the actions of this caterpillar and the 

 purpose, wisdom and foresight exhibited by the actions 

 of man, when he covers his body or machine gun to de- 

 ceive the enemy. The actors look alike and their actions 

 are alike. Plants as well as animals take stock of and 

 comprehend their situation and environments. In this 

 respect there is no difference in cells, plants or animals, 

 each will change and modify itself to surroundings. 



Some claim that life is caused by chemical action, that 

 life is purely a chemical action of matter. It is useless 

 to guess as to the first cause of life. We are concerned 



