Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/270

slowly ; and, in like manner, these may reasonably convince us, that, when in a dor- mant state, they feel slower still. But feel at last they most undoubtedly do ; and in- deed we have no warrant for assuming that they do not feel acutely. The nervous system is undoubtedly the surest basis for our conclusions, and it is to it therefore that we must fly for the correctest knowledge of the present subject. It is that by which the whole Animal Kingdom is divided into five grand departments, and, to say the least of it, therefore, it is a surer footing for us to walk upon than the observations of a few isolated facts, which may be at any moment flatly and diametrically contra- dicted by the same number of facts of an opposite nature, provided they be equally iso- lated. It is easy enough to assume (as many people have done) that the struggles which insects, in an impaled condition, display, are not the result of pain, but merely struggles to escape. But why is such probable, and what right have we to assume it ? On what grounds do we take for granted, that animals which occupy a high position in the Zoological Kingdom, — whose nervous system is beautifully developed and calcu- lated to carry sensation and feeling to all parts of the body, — which display a wonder- ful degree of instinct (we may say, in some instances, intelligence) and take a strange and noble part in the economy of Nature, — on what grounds do we assume that such animals as these are destitute of feeling ? Why was a nervous system given them, so fully developed and so wonderfully contrived, if they were ordained to be insensible to all external information and to be utterly incapable of enjoying the various states in which they are placed ? (For if they have no feeling, I assume that they are of course unable to " enjoy " their respective conditions). So far as my own opinion goes, I should have considered nervous matter (I believe it is called "neurine") and feeling inseparable. And, moreover, where feeling exists, I contend that there must be an ex- tremity of feeling,— i.e., a sense of pain. It is unquestionably true that that "sense of pain" is greater as we advance higher in the Animal Kingdom, that is to say, accord- ing as the nervous system, by which sensation is conveyed to the central masses of neurine, is more and more completely developed. Yet to say that it does not exist at all (even in a modified degree), and that too in creatures more than half way up the whole Zoological Kingdom and occupying a high position in the third grand depart- ment (Homogangliata) of the Animal Creation, — is certainly to assume more than we have a right to do, — even had we no other natural causes to guide us than their exter- nal form and wonderful perfection. Had insects, in the general classification, fallen amongst the Nematoneura, more doubt as to their power of real feeling might have ex- isted, — for, having in that case (as would have been true) merely nerves, properly so called, (i. e. in the form of strings or threads) by means of which intercommunication between the limbs could be earned on, — and having no central masses of neurine, ex- isting in the form of brains, to which external intelligence could be especially con- veyed, — the assertion " that they could not feel" might have been iiiore pardonable. Nevertheless, even in that case, we should have no positive right for the assumption, for so long as nerves exist at ally it is impossible to deny thsit feeling exists also. Pro- fessor Rymer Jones, in speaking generally of the class of animals included under the great division Homogangliata, observes, "But as the brain, or ruling centres of the nervous system, become more largely developed (and consequently, more perfect in their structure), limbs of progressively-increasing perfection are gradually appended to the two sides of the body, until at last, in the aêrial insects, we have creatures endowed with wonderful strength and energy, and gifted with senses and attributes of a very elevated character. Surely then we cannot possibly consider insects as destitute of