104 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



thousand individuals, all working under the command of 

 some one cell directing their course. They must neces- 

 sarily work under the direction of one cell or else how 

 could all these five thousand individuals push or pull in 

 unison. How could they all pull or push together the 

 same instant in order to go either forward or backward 

 unless there was someone in command to give the orders 

 when to go either forwards or backwards. This shows 

 clearly how the cells are able to organize themselves so 

 as to work together in harmony to affect their purpose. 

 Still it is but a very crude organization as compared with 

 the high state of organization and co-operation practised 

 by the plant and animal building cells. Here is what Mr. 

 Binet has to say about this colony of cells called the 

 volvox : 



"In the genus of volvox colonies are found of which 

 the structure is very complicated. Such are the great 

 green balls formed by the aggregation of diminutive or- 

 ganisms, which form the surface of the sphere and are 

 joined together by their envelope. They have each two 

 flagella which pass through the inclosing membrane and 

 swing unimpeded on the outside; the envelopes each 

 tightly holding the other form hexagonal figures exactly 

 like the cells of a honeycomb. Each volvox is at liberty 

 within its own envelope, but it projects protoplasmic ex- 

 tensions, which pass through its cuticle and place it in 

 communication with its neighbor. It is probable that 

 these protoplasmic filaments act like so many telegraphic 

 threads to establish a net work of communication among 

 all the individuals of the same colony. It is necessary, in 

 fact, that these diminutive organisms be in communica- 

 tion with each other in order that their flagella may move 

 in unison and that the entire colony may act as a unit and 

 in obedience to a single impulse. The number of micro- 



