XL] SPECIFIC GENESIS. 261 



to mineral species, to gemmules, and to physiological units, 

 it is only reasonable to attribute such to each individual 

 organism. 



The conception of such internal and latent capabilities 

 is somewhat like that of Mr. Galton, before mentioned, 

 according to which the organic world consists of entities, 

 each of which is, as it were, a spheroid with many facets on 

 its surface, upon one of which it reposes in stable equili- 

 brium. When by the accumulated action of incident forces 

 this equilibrium is disturbed, the spheroid is supposed to 

 turn over until it settles on an adjacent facet once more in 

 stable equilibrium. 



The internal tendency of an organism to certain con- 

 siderable and definite changes would correspond to the 

 facets on the surface of the spheroid. 



It may be objected that we have no knowledge as to 

 how terrestrial, cosmical, and other forces can affect 

 organisms so as to stimulate and evolve these latent, 

 merely potential forms. But we have had evidence that 

 such mysterious agencies do affect organisms in ways as 

 yet inexplicable, in the very remarkable effects of geo- 

 graphical conditions which were detailed in the third 

 chapter. 



It is quite conceivable that the material organic world 

 may be so constituted that the simultaneous action upon 

 it of all known forces, mechanical, physical, chemical, 

 magnetic, terrestrial, and cosmical, together with other as 

 yet unknown forces which probably exist, may result in 

 changes which are harmonious and symmetrical; just as 

 the internal nature of vibrating plates causes particles of 

 sand scattered over them to assume definite and symme- 

 trical figures when made to oscillate in different ways by 



