336 Life and Immortality. 



place from the deeper and cooler parts to the upper already 

 named. 



Thus we see, in the locomotion of the Myxomycetes, 

 extremely interesting cases of movements due to stimulation. 

 Light, heat, moisture and gravitation are, in general, stimulus- 

 movements, and ultimately all growth depends on stimulus- 

 movement, the most primitive kind of protoplasmic move- 

 ment. No causes other than those which actuate higher 

 organisms can be discerned to account for this lowest type of 

 organic movement. What form of inorganic energy can be 

 cited of sufficient potency to cause the organism to change, 

 and without regard to gravitation or any known form of 

 attraction or repulsion, its position in obedience to stimuli 

 acting for its self-preservation ? There is none. In the 

 Fuligo, or Tan Flower, a most remarkable example of 

 designed movement has been observed. This form will, 

 according to H. J. Carter, in its early amcebula stage, when 

 isolated from the sawdust and chips of wood among which 

 it has been living, adapt itself to the water of a watch-glass, 

 or any other shallow vessel, in which it may happen to be 

 placed. But, if the watch-glass be placed upon the sawdust, 

 then it will make its way over the side of the glass to get to 

 the sawdust. Here is probably shown a sense-perception of 

 the presence and position of the tan-bark, as well as a feel- 

 ing of desire to go to it. May not this desire have been due 

 to a sense of discomfort induced by the surrounding water, 

 or to the calling up in memory of some superior comfort 

 associated with the tan-bark ? 



Man in his self-complacency thinks that he knows the 

 plants about him. It is true that he has noted their form, 

 their anatomy, their color and their resemblances and differ- 

 ences, but how few have studied them in meadow and woods 

 by the light of a lantern at night or by the silver rays of the 

 moon. One feels on such an occasion as though he had 

 stepped from his threshold upon a foreign soil. Folded 

 leaves and strange sleeping forms will be found to confront 



