296 
NATURE 
[ Aug. 10, 1871 

less known in living bodies, it is not nececsary to look upon the 
phenomena as essentially of a different kind, to have recourse to 
the hypothesis of vital affinities, and still less to shelter ourselves 
under the slim curtain of ignorance implied in the explanation of 
the most varied chemical changes by the influence of a vital prin- 
ciple. 
Zoology and Botany 
On the subjects of zoological and botanical classification and 
anthropology, it would be out of place for me now to make any 
observations at length. I will only remark, in regard to the 
first, that the period under review has witnessed a very great 
modification in the aspect ia which the affinities of the bodies 
belonging to these two great kingdoms of nature are viewed by 
naturalists, and the principles on which groups of bodies of each 
are associated together in systematic classification ; for, in the 
first place, the older view has been abandoned that the compli- 
cation of structure rises in a continually increasing and continuous 
gradation from one kingdom to the other, or extends in one line, 
as it were, from group to group in either of the kingdoms 
separately. Evolution into a gradually increasing complexity 
of structure and function no doubt exists in both, so that types 
or general plans of formation must be acknowledged to pervade, 
presenting typical resemblances of construction of the deepest 
interest ; but in the progress of morphological research, it has 
become more and more apparent that the different groups form 
radiations, which touch one another at certain points of greatest 
resemblance, rather than one continuous line, or a number of 
lines which partially pass each other. The simpler bodies of 
the two kingdoms of nature exhibit a gradually increasing re- 
semblance to each other, until at last the differences between 
them wholly disappear, and we reach a point of contact of which 
the properties become almost indistinguishable, as in the remark- 
able Protista of Haeckel and others. I fully agree, however, 
with the view by Professor Wyville Thomson in his recent 
extraordinary lecture, that it is not necessary on this account to 
recognis? an intermediate kingdom of nature. Each kingdom 
presents, as it were, a radiating expansion into groups for itself, 
so that the relations of the two kingdoms might be represented 
by the divergence of lines spreading in two different directions 
from a common point, Recent observations on the chorda dor- 
salis (or supposed notochord) of some Ascidians tend to revive 
the discussion at one time prevalent, but long in abeyance, as to 
the possibility of tracing a homology between the vertebrate and 
invertebrate animals ; and, should this correspondence be con- 
firmed and extended, it may be expected to modify greatly our 
present views of zoological affinities and classification. It will 
also be an additional proof of the importance of minute and 
embryological research in systematic determinations. The re- 
cognition of homological resemblance of animals, to which in 
this country the researches of Owen and Huxley have contributed 
so largely, form one of the most interesting subjects of contem- 
plation in the study of comparative anatomy and zoology in our 
time ; but I must refrain from touching on so seductive and diffi- 
cult a subject. 
Natural Science in Schocls 
There is another topic to which I can refer with pleasure as 
connected with the cultivation of biological knowledge in this 
country, and that is the introduction of instruction in natnral 
science into the system of education of our schools. As to the 
feasibility of this in the primary schools, I believe most of those 
who are ‘intimately acquainted with their management have ex- 
pressed their decidedly favourable opinion—it being found that a 
portion of the time now allotted to the three great requisites of a 
primary education might with advantage be set apart, for the 
purpose of instructing the pupils in subjects of common interest, 
calculated to awaken in their minds a desire for knowledge of 
the various objects presented by the field of nature around them. 
As to the benefit which may result from this measure to the per- 
sons so instructed, it is scarcely necessary for me to say anything 
in this place. It is so obvious that any varied knowledge, how- 
ever easily acquired or elementary, which tends to enlarge the 
range of observation and thought, must have some effect in 
removing its recipients from grosser influences, and may even 
supply information which may prove useful in social economy 
and in the occupations of labour. Nor need I point out 
how much more extended the advantages of such instruction may 
prove if introduced into the system of cur secondary schools, and 
more freely combined than heretofore with the too exclusively 
literary and philosophical study which has so long prevailed in 



modes of study as in themselves necessary and useful, and excel- 
lent means of disciplining the mind to learning, I cannot but hold 
it as certain that the mind which is entirely without scientific cul- 
tivation is but half prepared for the common purposes of modern 
life, and is en'irely unqualified for forming a judgment on some of 
the most difficult and yet most common and important questions 
of the day, affecting the interests of the whole community. I 
refer with pleasure to the published Essay of Dr. Lankester cn 
this subject, and to the arguments addressed two days ago by Dr. 
Bennett to the medical graduates of the University, in favour of 
the establishment of physiology as a subject of general education 
in this cuuntry, with reference to sanitary conditions. It is 
gratifying, therefore, to perceive that the suggestions made some 
years ago in regard to this subject by the British Association, 
through its committee, have already borne good fruit, and that 
the attention of those who preside over education in this country, 
as well as of the public themselves, is more earnestly directed to 
the object of securing for the lowest as well as the highest classes 
of the community that wholesome combination ot knowledge 
derived from education, which will duly cultivate all the faculties 
of the mind, and thus fit a greater and greater number for applying 
thems2lves with increased ability and knowledge to the purposes 
of their living and its improved condition, If the law of the 
Survival of the Fittest be applicable to the mental as well as 
to the physical improvement of our race (and who can doubt 
that in some measure it must be so), we are bound by 
motives of interest and duty to secure for all classes of 
the people that kind of education which will lead to the 
development of the highest and most varied mental power. 
And no one who has been observant of the recent progress of 
the useful arts, and its influence upon the moral, social, and 
political condition of our population, can doubt that that edu- 
cation must include instruction in the phenomena of external 
nature, including, more especially, the laws and conditions of 
life and health ; and that it ought to be, at the same time, such 
as will adapt the mind to the ready acquisition and just compre- 
hension of varied knowledge. It is obvious, too, that while this 
more immediately useful or beneficial effect on the common 
mind may be produced by the diffusion of natural knowledge 
among the people, biological science will share in the gain 
accruing to all branches of natural science, by the greater favour 
which will be accorded to its cultivators, and the increased 
freedom from prejudice with which their statements are received 
and considered by learned as well as by unscientific persons. 
Spiritualism 
I cannot conclude these observations without adverting to one 
aspect in which it might be thought that the appreciation of bio- 
logical science has taken a retrograde rather than an advanced 
position. In this, I do not mean to refer to the special culti- 
vators of Biology in its scientific acceptation, but to the fact that 
there appears to have taken place of late a considerable increase 
in the number of persons who believe, or who imagine that they 
believe, in the class of phenomena which are now called spiritual, 
but which have been known since the exhibitions of Mesmer, 
and, indeed, long before his time, under the most varied forms, 
as able to occur in persons of an imaginative turn of mind and 
peculiar nervous susceptibility. It is still more to be regretted 
that many persons devote a large share of their time to the prac- 
tice—for it does not deserve the name of study or investigation— 
of the alleged phenomena, and that a few men of acknowledged 
reputation in some departments of science have lent their 
names, and surrendered their judgment, to the countenance 
and attempted authentication of the foolish dreams of the 
practitioners of spiritualism, and similar chimerical hypo- 
theses. The natural tendency to a belief in the marvellous 
is sufficient to explain the ready acceptance of such views 
by the ignorant; and it is not improbable that a higher 
species of similar credulity may frequently act with persons of 
greater cultivation, should their scientific information and train- 
ing have been of a partial kind. It must be admitted, further, 
that extremely curious and rare, and to those who are not 
acquainted with nervous phenomena, apparently marvellous 
phenomena, present themselves in peculiar states of the nervous 
system—some of which states may be induced through the mind, 
and may be made more and more liable to recur, and are greatly 
exaggerated by frequent repetition. But making the fullest 
allowance for all these conditions, it is still surprising that 
persons, otherwise appearing to be within the bounds of sanity, 
should entertain a confirmed belief in the possibility of pheno- 
the approved British education. Without disparagement to those | mena, which, while they are at variance with the best established 
—. 
4 
