1 1 2 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



kind, no matter how complex^ have a form of equi- 

 librium in which, when they aggregate, their complex 

 forces are balanced, — a form far less rigid and definite, 

 for the reason that they have far less definite polarities, 

 are far more unstable, and have their tendencies more 

 easily modified by environing conditions.' And por- 

 tions of living matter which separate from a developed 

 Fungus go along a similar developmental groove, when 

 they lead an independent existence in a similar me- 

 dium for the same reason that the new-born living 

 matter assumed this particular form. They grow at 

 once into the form of the parent, because this parental 

 form has been the result of the harmonious action of 

 the same series of actions and reactions as are now 

 about to be passed through. Similar causes (intrinsic 

 and extrinsic) should lead to similar results. 



If it is true, as we affirm, that ToruU^ and even 

 Bacteria J are enabled occasionally to develop directly 

 into simple forms of Fungi, and that such Bacteria and 

 ToruldB are merely the primary forms most frequently 

 assumed by certain kinds of new-born living matter, 

 then obviously the form and structure of the Fungus 

 would stand in the same relation to the matter of 

 which it is composed that the form and molecular 

 structure of the crystal does to its matter. There 

 would be, in fact, just as much reason why the new- 

 born organism should develop into the form of one 

 already in existence, as there would be that the crystal 

 of sulphate of soda which forms to-day in a solution 



