COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



field-mice, who destroy their combs and nests. 

 It is estimated that in England more than two 

 thirds of each generation of humble-bees are 

 destroyed by mice. Hence it follows that the 

 cat is a friend and protector of the humble-bee ; 

 and that any sensible variation in the number of 

 cats in a given district must indirectly cause a 

 variation in the numbers of heartsease and red 

 clover which grow in the neighbourhood. It is 

 only needful to add that in such variations we 

 have a series of endlessly complex rhythms ; as 

 is obvious from the fact that the number of in- 

 dividuals in any species is never constant, but is 

 continually fluctuating about an average mean. 

 The cumulative result of such rhythms, going 

 on through countless ages, is witnessed in the 

 rhythmical changes of organic species revealed 

 by palaeontology. In all ages species have been 

 encroaching on each other, and while some have 

 been growing more abundant, others have gradu- 

 ally disappeared. Thus we find successive floras 

 and faunas, characteristic of successive geologi- 

 cal epochs, showing that " life on the earth has 

 not progressed uniformly, but in immense un- 

 dulations." 



For the further illustration and more abun- 

 dant proof of the law that all motion is rhythmi- 

 cal, I must refer to Mr. Spencer's " First Prin- 

 ciples," where the subject is discussed much 

 more fully than is here practicable. But our 

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