Jump to content

Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 75.djvu/349

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ORIGIN OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
345

instances their action is independent of nervous control, while in others it is under this control. In my opinion the instances of independent action represent a primitive state; the others a condition brought about through the appropriation of these organs as end-organs by a developing nervous system.

If what has been stated in this article is correct, we must picture to ourselves as steps in the evolution of the nervous system not only the independent origin of muscle around which the nervous organs subsequently develop, but also the independent origin of other effectors such as chromatophores, glands and phosphorescent organs and the secondary appropriation of many of these by a developing nervous system. This principle of appropriation I believe to be as significant in elucidating the present condition of the nervous system and its appendages, as the principle of evolutionary sequence of parts, muscle, sense organ, and central nervous organ, as given in the first three articles.

References

Bayliss, W. M., and E. H. Stabling.
1904. The Chemical Regulation of the Secretory Process. Proc. Roy. Soc., London, vol. 73, pp. 310-322.
Bongardt, J.
1903. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Leuchtorgane einheimischer Lampyriden. Zeitschr. wiss. Zool., Bd. 65, pp. 1-45, 3 Taf.
Brücke, E.
1852. Untersuchungen ueber den Farbenwechsel des afrikanischen Chamaeleons. Denkschr. Akad. Wiss., Wien, math.-naturw. Cl., Bd. 4, 34 pp., 1 Taf.
Carlton, F. C.
1903. The Color Changes in the Skin of the so-called Florida Chameleon, Anolis carolinensis Cuv. Proc Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., vol. 39, pp. 259-276, 1 pi.
Ewart, J. C.
1888. The Electric Organs of the Skate. On the Development of the Electric Organs of Raia batis. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., London, B, vol. 179, pp. 399-416, pls. 66-68.
Mangold, E.
1907. Leuchtende Schlangensterne und die Flimmerbewegung bei Ophiopsila. Arch. ges. Physiol., Bd. 118, pp. 613-640.
Parker, G. H.
1897. Photomechanical Changes in the Retinal Pigment Cells of Palæmonetes, and their Relation to the Central Nervous System. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 30, pp. 275-300, 1 pi.
Parker, G. H., and S. A. Starratt.
1905. Color Changes in Anolis. Science, n. ser., vol. 21, p. 381.
Peters, A. W.
1905. Phosphorescence in Ctenophores. Journ. Exp. Zool., vol. 2, p. 103-116.
van Rynberk, G.
1906. Ueber den durch Chromatophoren bedingten Farbenwechsel der Tiere. Ergeb. Physiol., Jahrg. 5, Abt. 1 and 2, pp. 347-571.