I884.J 
Thoughts on Imitation. 
475 
and awkward as many of them are, so far from being a 
“ crying evil,” are absolutely essential to progress. An 
alternative may possibly be found in a scheme of classifica- 
tion similar to that outlined in Prof. Frankland’s “ Ledture 
Notes.” Organic compounds are divided into thirteen 
classes, and the classes are divided into series, the 
members of a series differing from each other by the 
increment CH 2 . For example, butyric acid is the fourth 
member of the first series of Class 7, and might be 
designated as C. vn., S. 1, No. 4. There would, however, 
have to be much sub-classification to include the majority of 
chemical compounds, and some method would have to be 
devised for indicating substitution derivatives and the host 
of isomers resulting therefrom. Still a system similar to 
the above seems at present the only alternative to significant 
names of terrible length. Probably, however, some day the 
science of Chemistry will bend her fair neck to the yoke of 
Mathematics, and then the symbols of Algebra and of the 
Calculus will replace “ significant names.” 
IMETISM”or mimicry, — the truth which Bates 
4 4 and Belt discovered in their tropical wanderings, 
and which other writers have since been ham- 
mering out into the very thinnest of gold leaf for the edification 
of their readers ? No : I wish to say a few words on inten- 
tional, conscious imitation by one animal of the gestures, 
movements, and sounds of other creatures. It is, perhaps, 
strange that a phenomenon of so daily occurrence should 
still be misunderstood, but here, as elsewhere, familiarity 
breeds contempt. In short, “ imitation ” is a word with 
which men juggle almost as cleverly as they do with 
“ instindt.” A monkey is seen to unlock a door, or to put 
on a pair of spedtacles ; a parrot, seeing someone in company 
take out his handkerchief, enquires “ Have you got a cold ? ” 
VI. THOUGHTS ON IMITATION. 
By J. W. Slater. 
2 1 2 
