ORIGIN OF LOWEST ORGANISMS. 



production of lichens similar to that from which the 

 gonidia had been derived. 



It is a fact, however, admitted by many, and 

 which any patient microscopist is capable of verifying 

 .for himself, that some Bacteria do develop into 

 Leptothrix filaments, and that these are capable of 

 passing into a dissepimented mycelial structure of 

 larger size and undoubtedly fungus nature from 

 which fructification of various kinds may be produced. 

 Some Bacteria may therefore develop into some 

 fungi, just as certainly as some Torulce may develop 

 into other fungi, or, just as surely as some multiply- 

 ing gonidia may develop into lichens. 



In order to prove, however, that the Bacteria which 

 happen to go through this development into Lepto- 

 tlirix and thence into fungi, are strictly to be 

 considered as necessary links in the life-history of 

 fungi, it would be essential for the person holding 

 such views, to show that Bacteria could not arise 

 independently or at least that no independently 

 evolved Bacteria could develop through Leptothrix- 

 forms into a fungus. And, similarly, for the other 

 kinds of organisms : in order to establish that the 



o 



Tornla cell is a necessary link in the life-history of 

 certain fungi, or the gonidial cell a necessary link in 

 the life-history of lichens, it would be necessary to 

 show that Torulce or gonidial cells could not originate 

 de noi'o that no independently evolved Tornla or go- 

 i-dial cell could develop into a fungus or a lichen. 



