The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

HIGHER ORGANISMS. 209the case of the winged insect, with head, antennaeor feelers projecting from the head,wings, and legs, leading to a more markedappearance of separate combinations, givinggreater prominence to the head. When fromthis we rise to the $shl thence to the bird,thence to the quadruped, we find the headmade .conspicuously the central organ of theentire nerve system of the animal, while itoccupies the front position in the body. Itis no longer one of a set or series of knots;nor even the largest or more conspicuous ina graduated order of centres; but in the headof the animal is found that which is the truenerve centre for the whole nerve system, designatedthe brain. In the case of the vertebrates,not only does the skeleton afford thesolid frame-work on which the muscular systemis built, but the back-bone containswithin it the main column of nerve fibres,which are given out at the several joints accordingto the requirements of the body.If meanwhile we concentrate attention onour own bodies, we may by the aid of personalexperience find easy illustration of theprominent features of the nerve system. Weshall take first the two distinct lines of nerves