(9' ) 



CHAPTER VI. 



PERSONAL IDENTITY (continued). 



How arbitrary current notions concerning identity 

 really are, may perhaps be perceived by reflecting upon 

 some of the many different phases of reproduction. 



Direct reproduction in which a creation reproduces 

 another, the facsimile, or nearly so, of itself may 

 perhaps occur among the lowest forms of animal life ; 

 but it is certainly not the rule among beings of a 

 higher order. 



A hen lays an egg, which egg becomes a chicken, 

 which chicken, in the course of time, becomes a hen. 



A moth lays an egg, which egg becomes a cater- 

 pillar, which caterpillar, after going through several 

 stages, becomes a chrysalis, which chrysalis becomes 

 a moth. 



A medusa begets a ciliated larva, the larva begets a 

 polyp, the polyp begets a strobila, and the strobila 

 begets a medusa again ; the cycle of reproduction being 

 completed in the fourth generation. 



A frog lays an egg, which egg becomes a tadpole ; 

 the tadpole, after more or fewer intermediate stages, 

 becomes a frog. 



