THE ORIGIN OF LIFE 69 



a central protoplasmic mass of a deep red colour, 

 and often divided into still more minute globes, be 

 lieved to be reproductive germs. Each of these 

 bodies, only one-twelve-thousandth of an inch in 

 diameter, is a perfect plant, capable of performing all 

 the functions of vegetable life and of multiplying in 

 an astonishing manner at a temperature scarcely 

 above the freezing point, and supplied with nourish 

 ment and energy by the snow-water and by the 

 solar light and heat. It uses, in short, the power of 

 the solar light and heat to enable it to decompose 

 the small amount of carbonic dioxide and ammonia 

 contained in the melting snow, and to construct from 

 their materials and from water the protoplasm and 

 mucilage and colouring matter necessary to form its 

 own substance. Thus it grows in magnitude, and 

 when mature produces many microscopical germs, 

 which, being discharged from the parent sac, spread 

 themselves on the snow, till from a single germ acres 

 or miles of this may be filled with these tiny organ 

 isms. 



Here is a low form of plant life existing under 

 what appear to us as unfavourable conditions ; but 

 observe how much it implies. We must have in the 

 first place a pre-existing germ of marvellous potencies, 

 and containing a great number of the complex mole 

 cules of protoplasm, and this endowed with life. Next 

 we find this germ possessing chemical powers of a 

 most extraordinary character. The most essential of 



