1881.] on the Origin of Colonial Organisms. 511 



follows : 1. The original condition of organisms is colonial ; tlio 

 universal segmentation of the egg is a proof of this inference, and tho 

 development of new forms by this so-called process in low forms like 

 gregarinjD, etc., supports this conclusion. 2. The lower we proceed 

 in the scale of being tho more marked is the tendency to form 

 "colonial" organisms. 3. Arrest of develoimient, by causing an 

 organism to cease progressing at a segregated stage, will tend to pro- 

 duce a " compound " and " ct)lonial " constitution. 4. The plant 

 world is "colonial" in its highest types. Plant development lias 

 not ju'ocecded towards any marked increase of " individuality " over 

 the colonial nature of lower forms. A tree is in many respects as 

 markedly " colonial " as a vol vox. 5. The highest animals exhibit 

 lingering traces of an originally " colonial " nature in their histo- 

 logical composition. 6. The tendency of life-development is towards 

 concentration, and the conversion of the "colony" into the true 

 " individual." 



It is suggested by way of final inference, and by way of incursion 

 into a biological byepath, that the theory and idea of an originally 

 " colonial " constitution may explain the existence in man and higher 

 animals generally of those tribal and family associations which mark 

 the upper strata of existence. The semi-independent action of many 

 parts of the higher brain, for instance, receives an explanatory hint as 

 to causation, from the idea of an originally independent and colonial 

 constitution. 



[A. W.] 



2 N 2 " 



