THE LAW OF SYMBIOTIC MODERATION 145 



development such as malformation or monstrosity. I would 

 recall the famous experiments of Maupas with a common infusorian 

 (Leucophrys patula), showing that with plant food (cross-feeding) 

 the rate of asexual reproduction is much less than with animal 

 food (in-feeding), reproduction tending towards conjugation 

 the higher mode rather than towards fission the lower mode. 

 In the same way, Yung, who fed tadpoles alternatively on beef, 

 fish and frog's flesh (note the gradual intensification of the in- 

 feeding), obtained the following results as regards the ratio of 

 male and female : first brood percentage of females, 54-78 ; 

 second brood, 61-81 ; third, 56-92. (The tadpole in the normal 

 state is a cross-feeder ; but such considerations are usually entirely 

 disregarded.) 



As soon as we recognise that normal life is characterised by 

 symbiotic proportions, the mystery of not a few experimental 

 results is easily solved. Invariably it will be found that the 

 lower forms of propagation are associated with lower forms of 

 Symbiosis, and that the respective inferior bio-social methods 

 of life lead to various incompatibilities, as between the contrasting 

 interests of the lower and the higher orders of life. The 

 antagonism between the reproductive and vegetative functions 

 is an fond the antagonism between progressive and reactionary 

 bio-social tendencies within the great world society formed by 

 plants and animals on our globe. The " sociological " interpre- 

 tation of nature is thus congruous with common sense, with 

 observed facts, and congruous also with our best knowledge. 



