39^ Weismamis Theories — 



plant and that which Professor Weismann supposes to be 

 present in a bud, he affirms (p. 322) that it 



' must be very slight, and perhaps quite insignificant, for it is possible 

 that the difference between the secondary shoots and the primary 

 plant may chiefly depend upon the changed conditions of develop- 

 ment which takes place beneath the earth in the latter case, and in 

 the tissues of the plant in the former.' 



But in the seed of plants we may plainly see, as e.g. in 

 the bean, the rudimentary stem or plumule, and also the 

 incipient root or radicle, but no such rudimentary root is 

 ever formed in the bud. Yet if there be real germ -plasm 

 there, such as the Professor supposes, it is to us inconceiv- 

 able that its mere situation should render such a fundamental 

 structure as the radicle absolutely abortive. 



But Dr. Weismann's position mainly reposes upon the 

 great distinction which he draws between the lowest or 

 unicellular animals, and all the other higher forms, from 

 sponges up to man, which are known amongst naturalists 

 as Metazoa. In drawing the great distinction he does, he 

 but carries somewhat further that previously drawn by most 

 zoologists along the same lines. We, however, have for 

 years been inclined to regard the popular view with distrust. 

 That view has been based upon w^hat we deem an exag- 

 gerated estimate of the value and significance of the cell, as 

 Professor Weismann's is based upon, what, in our opinion 

 is an exaggerated estimate of the value and significance of 

 the cell-nucleus. But recent discoveries have shown that 

 early stages of individual development, which have been 

 attributed exclusively to the activity of ' cells,' can take 

 place without them,^ and that changes in the nucleus 

 hitherto thought to be due to its o^vn inherent activity 

 are carried on by the agency of the surrounding substance,^ 



1 As in the archaic, insect-like creature named Feripatus. 



2 See Boveri, Zellen Studien. Jenaische Zeitschri/t fur Naturwissen- 

 scTiaften, 1887-1888. 



