Page:The advancement of science by experimental research - the Harveian oration, delivered at the Royal College of Physicians, June 27th, 1883 (IA b24869958).pdf/37

33 varied forms and characters are derived from a few forms, or from mere living protoplasm without divine interposition or even that species are thus produced. Some of the lower forms of life, the infusoria and rhizopoda have existed unchanged for enormous periods of time, whilst others have by some means or other attained to wonderful instinct and to marvellous adap- tations to life. How full of interest are the minute changes in ants! their peculiar habits, their sterile members, their slave holding propensities! there are alterations in different varieties, but they are ants still, and they shew throughout, we think the wonderful design of a superior mind, the mind of God. The instinctive skill of the bee may lead to the construction of the perfect cells of the hive bee, and the less perfect one of the humble bee, but they are bees still; and, it is difficult to believe, that by tracing backward, however re- motely to primitive germs we should find the ant and the bee produced from a similar origin, without divine interference, al- though belonging to the same division of