74 THE REALM OF ORGANISMS CONTRASTED 



that the domain of the inorganic is as it is for a purpose. At 

 present we leave this as a pious anticipation. 



SUMMAEY. 



The world without is conveniently divided into the realm of 

 organisms and the domain of the inorganic, which stand in close 

 inter-relation and sharp contrast. In the domain of the inorganic — 

 from solar system to snow crystal, from the hills and the sea to 

 dust and dew-drops — we are impressed — by (a) the rich concrete 

 fulness of different kinds of things and events, which, nevertheless, 

 can be summed up, for most purposes, in terms of a few funda- 

 mental concepts, such as matter and motion; (b) the orderly uni- 

 formity that pei-vades it; and (c) the restless and subtle activity 

 that appears to obtain throughout. 



A study of the realm of organisms discloses a multitude of in- 

 dividualities and j^et an orderly systema naturae. There is an em- 

 barrassment of different kinds — 25,000 named Vertebrates, ten times 

 as many named backboneless animals, and about as many plants, 

 yet a rational classification is possible. 



A second impression is of the abundance and insurgence of life. 

 Most of its streams tend to overflow their banks. Many species 

 are represented by numberless individuals. There is also the quality 

 of insurgence, for we see life intrusive everywhere, pressing up 

 against limitations, circumventing or overcoming difficulties — hke 

 a strong will. 



Another impression is of ceaseless struggle and endeavour on the 

 one hand, ceaseless selection or sifting on the other. Living crea- 

 tures react in manifold ways to environing limitations and difficul- 

 ties, and in the clash that ensues there is often discriminate elimina- 

 tion. 



The inter-relatedness of organisms is another fundamental fact. 

 Animate nature is a vast system of interlinked lives, a web with 

 a pattern. As in mankind, there is progress towards systematisa- 

 tion and solidarity, and the correlation of organisms which is a 

 product of evolution becomes in turn a directive factor. 



Another fundamental impression is that of fitnesses. Every 

 higher organism is a complex bundle of adaptations. It is suited 

 to its inanimate surroundings, to its food, it may be to other crea- 

 tures, to its own weight, to its movements; it may be to a mate 



