Aristotle's biology 



unacquainted with Aristotle. And the very 

 fact was again forgotten until Johannes Miiller 

 brought it to light, and showed not only how 

 complete was Aristotle's account, but how wide 

 must have been his survey of this class of 

 fishes to enable him to record this peculiarity 

 in its relation to their many differences of 

 structure and reproductive habit." ^* 



Turning from animals with blood to the 

 bloodless animals, Aristotle continues his 

 attempt to guide himself by the descending 

 methods of reproduction^ which correspond 

 with the lowering degrees of life and vital 

 function in these inferior but still marvellously 

 interesting creatures. Passing downwards 

 through those Crustacea which he finds gener- 

 ated from an imperfect ovum, he enters the 

 realm of insects. These spring from the 

 scolex or grub, which is metamorphosed, pass- 

 ing through the chrysalis or pupa, into the 

 perfect insect. ^° Lowest in the scale are 

 molluscs and finally the zoophytes (sponges, 

 Coelenterates) which are produced from 

 generative slime or by spontaneous gen- 

 eration. The last idea, of course, has been 

 abandoned. 



Instead of giving the further details of 



[59] 



