
292 THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE 
Moulds often originate de novo by heterogenesis, but 
that ‘various simple Algz, Diatoms, and Phytozoa 
may take their origin from alien sources; and that 
a similar heterogenetic origin is most frequently met 
with for Amcebe, Actinophrys, Flagellate Monads, 
Peranemata, and even Ciliated Infusoria.!” 
These views of mine, as the results of oft-repeated 
observations, are, I would submit, in accordance 
with the present-day existence of vast multitudes of 
lowest organisnis of all kinds on the face of the earth. 
No consistent explanation of their presence can be 
given by those who will not accept my facts. They 
have been frequently challenged to do so, but they 
never attempt to furnish an answer to the following 
considerations (4oc. cz¢. p. 299) :— 
‘Tf all the forms of life that have ever existed 
upon the surface of the Earth have been derived 
from the primordial forms which took origin by 
natural synthetic processes occurring only in an 
incalculably remote past, no adequate and consistent 
explanation would be forthcoming of the undoubted 
existence at the present day of the teeming multi- 
tudes of such lower organisms as have been above 
referred to. For if the assumed gradual develop- 
ment of higher forms of life, during past geologic 
ages, has been largely due to the intrinsic mutability 
of living matter, as the Evolution hypothesis assumes, 
would it not be a stultification of that hypothesis to 
suppose that such primordial forms as Bacteria, 
Torule, Monads, Amcebe, and Ciliated Infusoria 
have remained practically unchanged, and in these 
“The Nature and Origin of Living Matter,” p. 299. 
