METHOD IN SCIENCE 15 



It seemed to me that such biologic parallels were to be 

 discovered in the phenomena of colonization, especially in 

 examples of definite emigration parties in different vessels. 

 The departure of a portion of the community carrying its 

 own tools and weapons is obviously a real illustration of 

 budding, and indicates far more than, on a casual view, is 

 seen upon the surface. Provided the new environment is 

 not very different from the old one, the new civilization will 

 follow closely on that of the old. But when the environ- 

 ment changes, as new materials are discovered, the form will 

 and must change. A colonial " bud " which discovers iron 

 and makes weapons and tools from it will, in accordance 

 with its environment, and the stresses of life, become either 

 an agricultural, a hunting, or a fighting people. If tools 

 are catalysts, and catalysts are tools, we are surely in posses- 

 sion of some hint as to the mechanism of the transmission 

 of altered and acquired characteristics, and all the allied 

 sciences have lent their aid to the conception. 



It is, however, in another illustration that we can best 

 discern the meaning and mechanism of mitosis. What can 

 be a better illustration of an extruded zygote than a ship 

 carrying a party of males and females, and furnished with 

 all the tools familiar to the mother-country in order to 

 cope with what is expected to furnish a suitable, and fairly 

 like, environment ? In such a vessel we have the human 

 protoplasm (on its plane probably no more complex than a 

 "limit of life "), and a definite provision of tools and weapons 

 for carrying on the communal life of the new unit. On 

 arrival at its destination we observe at once the influence of 

 the environment. It may be deadly, the " cell " may die, it 

 maybe wrecked, or it may never proceed to further develop- 

 ment and division. But supposing "the" environment is 

 good, the new community, with the help of its tools, will 



