Uniform Standard for Comparative Animal Psychology. 135 



gence' with that of vertebrates." The following conclus- 

 sion which is almost identical with the above, will show 

 the fallacy of this mode of argumentation : "The contin- 

 uation of the spinal cord within the cerebrum (medulla 

 oblongata) is the most essential organ of all vital func- 

 tions in vertebrates; but this continuation of the spinal 

 cord is wanting in ants: consequently they have no 

 vital function, and we cannot compare the vital func- 

 tions of ants with those of vertebrates." This argu- 

 mentation is false, because it entirely ignores the very 

 important fact that the nervous system of articulates 

 is built on a different anatomical plan from that of ver- 

 tebrates, and that, consequently, the vegetative, as well as 

 the psychic functions of articulates, depend on very dif- 

 ferent central organs of the nervous system, which are 

 merely analogous to those of vertebrates, although they 

 fulfil the same biological purpose. Edinger himself 

 has proved that the nerve-centers of articulates are the 

 organic foundation and condition of psychic association. 

 In examining the anatomical structure of the first ab- 

 dominal ganglion of a crawfish he pointed to the 

 nerve-cells joined together by various filaments, and 

 exclaimed : "How many possibilities of association are 

 furnished by this single ganglion!" 1 Yet the brain 

 of an ant is the central organ of a nervous system far 

 more perfect than a ganglion in the abdomen of a craw- 

 fish! Why then, deny to ants the psychic power of 

 association "for anatomical reasons"? If the lack of 

 a cerebral cortex like that of vertebrates were a reason 



l ) Op. cit., p. 28. Whether the ganglion-cells or the fibrillar tissues 

 are regarded as the organs of nervous activity, is of no importance in 

 our present discussion. 



