42 MIND IN EVOLUTION CHAP. 



lies for a few seconds, after which it begins to rise again. 1 

 If the pseudopodium or temporary arm of protoplasm 

 stretching out from the cell body of a Rhizopod, like 

 Difflugia urceolata, be touched with a needle it becomes 

 wrinkled, and if touched somewhat harder withdraws into 

 the cell mass. 2 It is needless to multiply instances. 

 Reflex action in the sense of uniform response to simple 

 stimulus is found all along the scale of organic evolution 

 from the Protista to man. 



3. If we regard only the function that it subserves in 

 the life of the organism, reflex action impresses us as 

 purposive. If we look only at the method by which it is 

 ^carried out, it impresses us as mechanical. If something 

 comes straight at my face, I blink. The action is well 

 adapted to the purpose of protecting my eyes from the 

 blow. But it is unintelligent. I may know perfectly well 

 that the object is not going to hit me, but notwithstanding 

 every effort I blink. Whether itself to be regarded as 

 intelligent or not, reflex action proceeds independently of 

 the conscious intelligence of human beings. It is in many 

 cases both among men and animals independent of the 

 higher cerebral centres which are essential to intelligent 

 action in the ordinary sense. There are some reflexes of 

 which we are not conscious at all ; for example, the con- 

 traction of the iris under the influence of light. There 

 are others of which we may or may not be conscious, but 

 which we cannot hinder. Such are, for many people, 

 blinking, and probably for all people vasomotor reflexes 

 like blushing and growing pale. There are others which 

 we can interfere with in some slight degree, like breathing, 

 coughing, sneezing, and laughing. Others again can be 

 inhibited by a strong effort of will, such as weeping, 

 screaming, and groaning. But in all alike the conscious 

 intelligence seems to have nothing to do with initiating or 

 directing the action. The action proceeds of itself. It 

 does not need consciousness nor the other activities of the 

 organism. I remember being thrown by a sudden accident 

 over the handles of an old-fashioned high bicycle. The 

 thing happened so quickly that I realised nothing about 

 1 Verworn, Prot. St. p. 86. 2 Ib. p. 83. 



