42 THE HISTORY OF CREATION, 
covering (membrane, or skin) was formed round simple eytods 
(without kernel), as well as round naked cells (containing a 
kernel). By these two processes of separation in the simpie 
primeval mucus of the Moneron body, by the formation of 
a kernel in the interior and a covering on the outer surface 
of the mass of plasma, there arose out of the original most 
simple cytods, or Monera, those four different species of 
plastids, or individuals, of the first order, from which, by 
differentiation and combination, all other organisms could 
afterwards develop themselves. (Compare vol. i. p. 347.) 
The question now forces itself upon us, Are all organic 
cytods and cells, and consequently also those “ original cells” 
which we previously considered to be the primary parents of 
the few great main groups of the animal and vegetable king- 
doms, descended from a single original form of Moneron, or 
were there several different organic primary forms, each 
traceable to a peculiar independent species of Moneron 
which originated by spontaneous generation? In other 
words, Is the whole organic world of a common origin, or 
does it owe its origin to several acts of spontaneous genera- 
tion? This fundamental question of genealogy seems at 
first sight to be of exceeding importance. but on a more- 
accurate examination, we shall soon see that this is not 
the ease, and that it is in reality a matter of very subor- 
linate importance. 
Let us now pass on to examine and clearly limit our 
conception of an organic tribe. By tribe, or phylum, we 
understand all those organisms of whose blood relationship 
and descent from a common primary form there can be no 
doubt, or whose relationship, at least, is most probable from 
anatomical reasons, as well as from reasons founded on his- 
