106 THE OPERATIONS OF NATURE IN 



time originate without a parental matrix, and at another time 

 within a parent, i. e., under two totally different circumstances, 

 according to their ideas. If on the other hand they claim that the 

 adult stage was that in which the first animals were created, 

 then, as I have said before, they admit that spontaneous gen- 

 eration has happened at some time or other. If so, then what 

 is there in the theory of spontaneous generation so revolting to 

 the theistic creationists, or that it should have happened since 

 the first time, that the Creator should have thought to repeat 

 and continue his original plan of creation, as one of several 

 modes of giving rise to individuals? 



No one revolts now at the statement, the fact being well estab- 

 lished, that large groups of animals arise by budding; that is, by 

 a division of one individual into two or more parts, and each 

 part becoming a perfect animal. This is a stage which has no 

 egg-phase, and no one disputes its occurrence ; yet before it was 

 verified, must not the idea have seemed just as absurd as some 

 would have that of spontaneous generation ? The latter only 

 differs now in probability from the former in that it lacks so pal- 

 pable and as numerous proofs as that. The restoration of lost 

 parts, such as legs, jaws, and tails, by animals, from the highest 

 to the lowest, with increasing degree of frequence as we go 

 lower, is akin to budding, and makes budding seem not impos- 

 sible even in the highest animals. Yet that a whole limb or 

 several limbs of a crab, lobster, spider, caterpillar, or grub, the 

 arms of a starfish, or the tail of a lizard, are restored after hav- 

 ing been broken off, was once as marvellous as spontaneous gen- 

 eration now is. 



It would seem to be more plausible that the adult phase should 

 have been the primordial state of the first animals; simply be- 

 cause in that state animals could have taken care of themselves, 

 whereas eggs would have been at the mercy of the elements, 

 and that would not accord with the known condition of eggs in 

 their first stages. To have the theory regarding this dependent 

 form consistent with itself, the egg must have always originated 

 in a parent. The only other alternative is that the egg-phase is 



