ANIMAL LIFE ASSIMILATION. 



duction is itself double, being on the one 

 hand the renewal of the body within itself 

 (self-regarding), but also the renewal of the 

 body in a different individual (other-regard- 

 ing). Thus we see Assimilation and Gener- 

 ation tied together both in word and thought. 



The association of cells into the organ has 

 been repeatedly noted in the previous account, 

 and their peculiar power of adjustment. But 

 here the remarkable fact is the association 

 of organs into the highest organism of Na- 

 ture, correlated and co-operant in one living 

 body which, however, in its turn will show 

 the same associative principle. Animals form 

 societies, not merely those of one species but 

 of different species, till man enters and caps 

 the associative gift of Nature with his social 

 institutions. Beginning with the cell animal 

 life has shown a never-ceasing push for as- 

 sociation ; and the same has been already no- 

 ticed in the Plant-world. This inner bent or 

 propensity of all Life What is it? Whence? 

 Whither? Already we have challenged the 

 work of that -unseen Psyche lurking in the 

 seen forms of Physis everywhere and driving 

 it forward step by step toward an end truly 

 the end of all Nature, which is to transcend 

 Nature. 



At present, however, the vast organic va- 

 riety of animal Assimilation is before us for 



