THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 269 



cerning them: (i) that they are animal organisms of 

 the lowest grade, having an individuality of their own, 

 as conjectured by Ehrenberg; (2) that they are, as 

 supposed by Hallier, of the nature of spores, produced 

 from, and destined again to develop into, some of the 

 simplest microscopic fungi 3 ; (3) that they represent, 



1 This view has been advocated by Dr. Polotebnow of St. Petersburg, 

 in a memoir presented to the Vienna Academy on June 3, 1869. He 

 thinks that Bacterium, Vibrio, and Spirillum are all developmental stages 

 of Penicillium glaucum. Prof. Huxley has lately (' Quart. Journal of 

 Microsc. Science,' Oct. 1870, p. 360) expressed opinions having a similar 

 bearing. It will be seen, however, from the words which are placed in 

 italics, that Prof. Huxley's views on this subject are, in part, mere sur- 

 mises, rather than positive impressions based on a complete research. 

 He says : ' With Torula, then, we find Bacteria in great numbers in this 

 quiescent state. Usually masses are to be seen adhering very closely or 

 tightly to one Torula cell or another, and such masses are very difficult 

 to separate from the cell to which they are fixed. It seems probable that 

 the Bacteria proceed in this way from the Torula cells, as the Torula 

 cells do from Conidia. // is probable that Bacterium is a similar thing 

 to Torula a simplest stage in the development of a fungus. By sowing 

 Conidia you also get Bacteria in abundance. You get the Bacteria 

 adhering like this (fig. 6, d) to the Conidia, and they are, / believe, 

 developed from the protoplasm of the Conidia just as Torulae are ; and 

 we may compare these two forms to the Microgonidia and Macro- 

 gonidia of Algae. They are all terms in the development of Penicillium.' 

 With reference to this theory, my own observations make me certain 

 that Bacteria may appear in solutions (ihin films) where no Torula 

 exists. And more rarely, Torula cells may be seen in myriads in 

 infusions, not only without attached Bacteria, but even without any 

 discoverable Bacteria in the free state. I am quite familiar with this 

 appearance, as of budding Bacteria, in connection with Torula and 

 certain mycelial filaments. I look upon it, however, as the exception 

 rather than the rule ; and even where it exists, it seems by no means 

 clear that the appearance is not due to the mere adhesion of some of the 

 previously free Bacteria, which, in such cases, are always to be found 

 co-existing with the Torula or Fwre^ws-filaments. 



