GROWTH AND ASEXUAL GENESIS. 427 



multiply at all. Conversely, those which do not multiply 

 asexually at all, are a billion or a million times the size of 

 those which thus multiply with greatest rapidity ; and are a 

 thousand times, or a hundred times, or ten times the size of 

 those which thus multiply with less and less rapidity. With 

 out saying that this inverse proportion is regular, which, as \ve 

 shall hereafter see, it cannot be, we may unhesitatingly assert 

 its average truth. That the smallest organisms habitually 

 reproduce asexually with immense rapidity ; that the largest 

 organisms never reproduce at all in this manner ; and that 

 between these extremes there is a general decrease of asexual 

 reproduction along with an increase of bulk; are proposi 

 tions that admit of no dispute. 



