n] BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS 35 



Thus we can take the individuality of man back 

 before birth to a stage when the embryo ceases to be 

 easily recognized by the naked eye. To trace it still 

 further, the man of science with his microscope and 

 his knowledge of simpler animals must step in. There 

 the ordinary man must pause, and there we will leave 

 the question for the present ; turning now to see how 

 far his anthropocentric notions of individuality radiate 

 out to other living things. 



We find that he unquestioningly applies the word 

 to all the familiar creatures of everyday acquaintance, 

 the four-legged beasts and the birds, the snakes 

 and the fishes. This is his unconscious Comparative 

 Anatomy he recognizes instinctively the community 

 of general plan he shares with them. This unconscious 

 reasoning will carry him still further : he will not 

 hesitate when it comes to snails or insects or worms 

 in fact, show him anything with a mouth and 

 a stomach and he will dub it an individual. So far, 

 all seems plain sailing. 



In reality, this is exactly where all the difficulties 

 begin : without studying the outward form and minute 

 structure of himself and of other animals at all stages 

 of development without some knowledge, that is to 

 say, of all the numerous branches of the science of 

 Zoology, it is impossible for him to extend his 

 knowledge of individuality any further, and when he 

 does call Zoology to his aid, he finds that in every 



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