Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 13.djvu/172

 160 I N S I N S ance the explanation of which is not as yet completely clear. Thus it is not yet ascertained what hereditary influence it is that leads the Norwegian lemming periodically to 711 ignite westwards, with the result that enormous numbers of the species are destroyed by drowning. But there can be little doubt that this influence, what ever it was, was originally of benefit to the species, for it would be a case standing out of all analogy if this instinct should from its first orisin have been, as it now appears to be, detrimental. The only other instance that could be pointed to as wearing any such appearance is that which has been alleged, but on very doubtful evidence, with regard to the scorpion committing suicide by stinging itself to death when surrounded by a ring of fire. It may be here incidentally observed that the fact of all the innumer able multitude of animal instincts, with the exception of the two dubious cases just mentioned, being of obvious use to the species which manifest them, may properly be taken as the strongest possible evidence of the theory that ascribes all instincts to the operation of natural selection. 5. Lastly, we have an instinct which is pointed to by Mr Mivart as one that cannot be ex plained by the influence of natural selection, or, as he would appear to suggest, by the operation of any other natural cause. This instinct is manifested by a certain wasp-like animal, and consists in this animal stinging spiders in the particular part of the cephalo-thorax which contains the principal nervous centre. The effect of stinging this nervous centre is that of paralys ing the spider without killing it, and the spider in this maimed condition is then stored up with the larva 5, of the fly, to serve as their food when they quit the egg. It will be observed that there is here no question as to the utility of the instinct to the species which manifests it, and the difficulty to which Sir Mivart points consists merely in understanding how the insect was in the first instance led to sting the spiders in precisely the right spot to pro duce the particular results required. The answer to this single remaining difficulty is that as yet the case has not been sufficiently observed with a view to a possible solution of the difficulty. I seems, for instance, not at all improbable that the striking of the spider s ganglion by the sting of the wasp is, as it were, wholly accidental, being determined only by the circumstance that both the ganglion and the sting arc organs which occur in the median line of their respective possessors. Whether or not this is the explanation of the supposed difficulty, it at least seems clear that the latter is not one of any considerable magnitude. (G. J. 11.) INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, an association constituted under the name of the Insfitut National by the French Republican Convention, in October 1795, to occupya similar position to that of the old academies suppressed by an Act of the Convention, 8th April 1793 (see ACADEMY). The affix to the word &quot; Institut &quot; has undergone a variety of changes corresponding to changes in the form of the government of France. The Institute owed its existence chiefly to the efforts of three persons, Lakanal, Daunou, and Carnot, and, according to the terms of the law by which it was founded, its purpose was to &quot; advance the sciences and arts of research by the publication of discoveries and by correspondence with other learned &quot;societies, and to pro secute those scientific and literary labours which shall have for their end general utility and the glory of the republic.&quot; It was composed of three classes the first for sciences physiques et mathematiques, the second for sciences morales et politiques, and the third for litterature et beaux-arts. Originally it consisted of 144 members (the 48 nominated by the Convention electing 90 others), an equal number of associates in the provinces, and 24 foreigners of distinction who held the position of corre spondents. Each class was divided into several sections, 6 members and 6 associates being assigned to each section. The first class was composed of ten sections, viz., (1) mathematiques, (2) arts mecaniques, (3) astronomie, (4) physique experimentale, (5) chymie, (G) histoire naturelle et mineralogie, (7) botanique et physique generale, (8) anatomie et zoologie, (9) medecine et chirurgie, (10) economie rurale et art veterinaire. The second class was composed of six sections, namely, (1) analyse des sensations et des idees, (2) morale, (3) science sociale et legislation, (4) economie politique, (5) histoire, (G) geographic. The third class consisted of eight sections, viz., (1) grammaire, (2) langues anciennes, (3) podsie, (4) antiquites et monu ments, (5) peinture, (G) sculpture, (7) architecture, (8) musique et declamation. To the first class were thus assigned 60 members and as many associates, to the second 3G, and to the third 48, the foreign correspondents being divided equally among the classes. No member was per mitted to belong to more than one class ; but any one might be present at the meetings and assist in the labours of the other classes. The Institute was installed at the Louvre in the building formerly occupied by the Academie FranQaise, but in 1806 its locality was changed to the College des Quatre-Nations. The First Consul on the 23d January 1803 decreed for it a new constitution, the leading features of which were that the approval of the head of the Government was essential in the election of members ; the suppression of the second class ; and a redivision into the four classes of (1) sciences physiques et mathe matiques, (2) la langue et la litterature Franaises, and (3) histoire et litterature anciennes, (4) beaux-arts. The first class was composed of the ten sections of the old first class, and an additional section of geography and navigation with 3 members, with power to nominate 100 correspondents. The second class was composed of 40 members not separated into sections. The third class was composed of 40 members and of 8 foreign associates, and had the power to nominate 60 correspondents. The fourth class, which was composed of 28 members and of 8 foreign associates, was divided into five sections: peinture with 10 mem bers, sculpture with 6, architecture with 6, gravure with 3, and musique (composition) with 3 members. It had the power to nominate 36 correspondents. All classes had power to elect a stipulated number of members from the other classes. After the Restoration Louis XVIII. on the 21st March 1816 decreed the revival of the names of the old academies to the four classes of the Institute: (1) L Academie Franchise, corresponding to the old second class ; (2) L Academie royale des inscriptions et belles lettres, corresponding to the third class ; (3) L Academie royale des sciences, corresponding to the first class ; and (4) L Acad6mie royale des beaux-arts, corresponding to the fourth class. On the 5th March 1833 a fifth academy was added to the Institute, L Academie des sciences morales et politiques, corresponding to the second class suppressed by Napoleon. As restored, it was composed of 30 members, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40 correspondents. It was divided into five sections, viz., (1) philosophic, (2) morale, (3) legislation, droit public, et jurisprudence, (4) dconomie politique et statistique, (5) histoire gdnerale et philosophique. Each academy has its own special jurisdiction and work, with special funds and one or more perpetual secre taries, in addition to which there is a general fund and common library, which, as well as other matters connected with the Institute as a whole, are managed by a committee chosen in equal numbers from each of the academies. Matters of common interest to all the academies are dis cussed at a general meeting of the institute, and a stance publiqm annnelle takes place on the 25th October, the anniversary of the organization of the Institute. All the expenses of the Institute and the academies are defrayed by an annual sum voted by Government. Each member of the Institute receives an annual allowance of 1200 francs, and each secretary of an academy a salary of 6000 francs. A notice of the several academies is given in the article ACADEMY. See also FRANCE, vol. ix. p. 514. See Annuairc de T Institut ; Mcmoircs dc I Institut ; J. P. A. Lnca, Qucst-cc que I Institut, Paris, 1845 ; Roget de P&amp;gt;elloguet, Petition adrcssee a F opinion publiquc pour la reform c des elections de I Institut, Paris, 1862; L Empcreur a I 1 Institut, Paris, 1865; Alfred Franklin, Les Orlgincs du palais de F Institut, Paris, 1862 ; Alfred Potiquet, L lnstitut national de France, 1871 ; Renan, &quot; L lnstitut,&quot; in Questions Contemporaries, Paris, 1865 ; Francisque Ijouillicr, L lnstitut ct Ics Academics de province, Paris, 1879.