Mr. W» Clark on the recent Foraminifera. 1G5 



stars we can observe their proper motions, but in those which are 

 plunged in the deeper regions of the sphere, these motions, 

 though we may presume that they undoubtedly exist, are inap- 

 preciable. Why may we not apply a similar reasoning to the 

 doctrine of the sensations or interior sentiment, and the resulting 

 nervous and muscular influences, being implanted in the lowest 

 as well as the highly organized animals, according to their seve- 

 ral structures, and not consign vast classes to exist without sen- 

 sation ? It appears to me that the lines of separation between 

 apathy, sensation, interior sentiment, and intelligence, as laid 

 down by Lamarck, are erroneous and arbitrary. I believe that 

 apathy in its strict sense, as applied to animals, does not exist ; 

 and I repeat, that the most inferior created animal being is not 

 without that portion of sensation or interior sentiment, and its 

 concomitant nervous and muscular influence, that produces the 

 motions which are the tests of vitality. I may state that Lamarck 

 does not admit the distinction of intelligence and instinct; he 

 very justly considers the different degrees of what is called in- 

 stinct, in animals, as only subdued intelligences consequent on 

 their imperfect organs, when compared with the highest standard 

 — man. 



There is a great gulf between the intelligence of the brute 

 creation and that of man ; the impassable line is, that the one 

 does not fear death, and has no idea of the future, because the 

 beneficent Creator has not given it sufficient intelligence to rea- 

 son on matters which will never be granted ; but man fears death 

 and ardently desires immortality, because his Maker has con- 

 ferred on him the knowledge of life and death, and it may 

 therefore reasonably be inferred, that we shall not be tantalized 

 with a prospective view and hope of these things, if they were not 

 to be accomplished. 



To return to the Foraminifera : I am inclined to think that the 

 major part of these organisms, whether straight, arcuated, dis- 

 coid, alternate, enveloping, rolled en peloton, or whatever confi- 

 guration they may take, will conform in all the essential gene- 

 ralities with the structure of the animal — I mean of those parts 

 of it which I have clearly determined in the Dentalina linearis 

 and Marginulina legumen, and which I consider may fairly be 

 constituted the type of that section of the calcareous Polypi 

 termed Foraminifera : these organisms, from their distinct and 

 separate growth, show an advance in organization that justly 

 places them at the head of the calcareous Polypi, and I think it 

 will be long before this assigned position in the progressive order 

 of creation will be disturbed. That specialty-differences of a 

 more or less decided character exist in the component parts of 

 this group cannot be doubted j such variations are seen in every 



