324 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



ration, or series of spontaneous fissions of the primary 

 impregnated germ-cell, must weaken the spermatic 

 force transmitted to such successive generations of 

 cells." 



Quatrefages justly calls this a seductive theory; but 

 adds, that not even the imposing authority of Owen's 

 name has gained accej^tance for it. The first objection 

 I should raise is, that the assumption of the " prolific 

 force " belongs to me^a-physiology. The second objec- 

 tion is, that it obliges us to embrace the paradox of the 

 oreatest eff'ect arisinoj from the most diminished force, 

 since, according to it, the seed, in its primal vigour, 

 only produces buds — in its exhaustion, flowers ; the 

 egg, in its primal vigour, only produces Polypes or 

 Larv?e — in its exhaustion, Medusae or perfect Aphides. 

 Or must we regard the Flower, Medusa, and perfect 

 Aphis as inferior and arrested forms, of which Leaf, 

 Polype, and Larva are the matured beings ? The cele- 

 brated Wolfl" maintained that the Flower was an imper- 

 fect organism — flowers and fructification, according to 

 him, being the consequences of arrest of development;* 

 and much may be said for this hypothesis, although we 

 must finally reject it, when we know that there are 

 plants which flower before they put forth leaves, and 

 that the larval Aphis is confessedly an imperfect 

 insect. 



A third, and far more fatal, objection is, that under 

 suitable conditions the plant will continue putting forth 

 buds, the Polype putting forth Polypes, and the larval 



* Wolff : Theorie vo)i der Generation, 1764. § 80, et seq. 



