BUTTERFLY PSYCHOLOGY. 145 



else. Whatever view we take on the ab- 

 stract metaphysical question, it is at least 

 certain that the higher animals can do much 

 more than this. Their brain is able to cor- 

 relate a vast number of external impressions, 

 and to bring them under the influence of 

 endless ideas or experiences, so as finally to 

 evolve conduct which differs very widely 

 with different circumstances and different 

 characters. Even though it be true, as de- 

 terminists believe (and I reckon myself 

 among them), that such conduct is the neces- 

 sary result of a given character and given 

 circumstances or, if you will, of a particular 

 set of nervous structures and a particular set 

 of external stimuli yet we all know that it 

 is capable, of varying so indefinitely, owing to 

 the complexity of the structures, as to be 

 practically incalculable. But it is not so 

 with the butterfly. His whole life is cut out 

 for him beforehand ; his nervous connections 

 are so simple, and correspond so directly 

 with external stimuli, that we can almost 



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