186 THE FITNESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT 



stage of the infinitely varied process of organic 

 evolution. As a result we find here and there 

 in the marine flora and fauna almost every 

 element which the sea affords concentrated 

 and put to use. 



After what has gone before it will not be 

 necessary further to discuss the second great 

 qualification of an environment — stability 

 of conditions in the ocean. The principal 

 physical conditions and chemical compounds 

 therein are constant ; that is the whole case. 

 But it is a case which cannot be bettered. 

 Certainly nowhere else where life is possible, 

 probably in no other place in the universe 

 except another ocean, are so many conditions 

 so stable and so enduring. 



The regulatory devices of our modern labo- 

 ratories have not yet succeeded in rivaling 

 the ocean. Singly, certain conditions, for 

 example, temperature, alkalinity, and concen- 

 tration, may be more accurately regulated by 

 man, though on a small scale only ; but the 

 regulation of all such properties together is 

 not yet possible. The only known improve- 

 ment upon the ocean is the body of a higher 

 warm-blooded animal. Here, however, the 

 processes of organic evolution have begun 

 with the ocean, and in several respects merely 

 perfected existing arrangements. 



