204 EVOLUTION, OLD AND NEW. 



certain animals and plants under confinement, the 

 phenomena of old age as well as those of growth, and 

 the principle which underlies longevity and alternate 

 generations, follow logically and coherently, as I 

 showed in ' Life and Habit.' Moreover, we find that 

 the terms in common use show an unconscious sense 

 that some such view as I have insisted on was wanted 

 and would come, for we find them made and to hand 

 already ; few if any will require altering ; all that is 

 necessary is to take common words according to their 

 common meanings. 



Dr. Darwin is very good on this head. Here, as every- 

 where throughout his work, if things or qualities ap- 

 pear to resemble one another sufficiently and without 

 such traits of unlikeness, on closer inspection, as shall 

 destroy the likeness which was apparent at first, he 

 connects them, all theories notwithstanding. I have 

 given two instances of his manner of looking at instinct 

 and reason.* " If these are not," he concludes, " deduc- 

 tions from, their own previous experience, or observation, 

 all the actions of mankind must be resolved into 

 instincts." f 



If by " previous experience " we could be sure that 

 Dr. Darwin persistently meant " previous experience in 

 the persons of their ancestors," he would be in an 

 impregnable position. As it is, we feel that though he 

 had caught sight of the truth, and had even held it in 

 his hands, yet somehow or other it just managed to 

 slip through his fingers. 



Again he writes : 

 * See p. 116 of this volume. f ' Zoonomia,' vol. i. p. 184. 



