(9i ) 



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. 



