349 



therefore least evolved substances, certainly from the evolu- 

 tionist's point of view a most anomalous result. In the 

 concluding part of his paper Dr. Bastian attributes a low 

 evolutional capacity to acid liquids yet in Exp. 13, where no 

 bacteria were found, but a well-marked PenicilUum, with 

 fructification, and in Exp, 15, where an equally characteristic 

 fungus, with . but few bacteria occurred, the solutions were 

 both acid. And in comparing the experiments with organic 

 infusions, the first four, which were alkaline or neutral, show 

 on the whole less " evolutional capacity " than the last four 

 which were acid. So also, all the four cases where spores 

 were observed were in saline solutions, three of which were 

 acid. 



Assuming that fungi, which are comparatively high up in 

 the scale, are produced de novo, it would be reasonable to 

 expect that they would require the most favorable con- 

 ditions ; and it is therefore remarkable to find them occur- 

 ring under what on Dr. Bastian's own data we must conclude 

 to be unfavorable.^ Nor is this the only difficulty about 

 their occurrence. That they should commence with anything 

 resembling a specialised product of ultimate differentiation 

 like a spore, with even, as Mr. Worthington Smith remarks, 

 a neck-like prolongation, which would ordinarily be in- 

 terpreted to indicate the point of detachment from the pa- 

 rent, ^ is, a priori, very improbable. Supposing one of the 

 Myxogastres about to be evolved, it would be more reasonable 

 to suppose that the undifferentiated amoeboid body, which 

 results from the rupturing of the spore-wall, and which 

 gives rise to the divisionless plasmodium-like mycelium, 

 should be first evolved, rather than the spore, with its 

 distinction of cell-wall and cell contents. 



In four cases in solutions of ammonium tartrate and sodium 

 phosphate masses of spiral fibre were met with (fig. 13 a). 

 It is almost impossible to resist the conclusion suggested to 

 Dr. Bastian that this is a non-living accidental product, 

 altered by boiling ; and it was in all probability introduced 

 with one of the two saline ingredients, as it was only met 

 with when these particular ones were used. It is significant 

 to notice that in two cases (p. 197) foreign bodies were found 

 in the solutions, and that minute shreds of cotton or paper- 

 fibre have often been noticed with surprise, notwithstanding 



' The reaction of the liquid, as indeed Dr. Bastian admits, has in many 

 instances little influence on the development of living things in it. Sarcince, 

 for example, are developed indifferently in urine which is alkaline, neutral, 

 or acid (' Neubaer and Vogel,' p. 134). 



2 ' Nature,' vol. ii, p. 276 ; conf. figs. We, Yic, and 186. 

 VOL. X. NEW SER. A A 



