292 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



began to develop into mycelial filaments, i.e. the growth 

 of each was continuous rather than discontinuous. 



The thick- walled spores if such. was their realj 

 nature had either developed or come into existence, 

 under the influence of the high temperature and the 

 disturbed electrical condition of the atmosphere 1 . And 

 whatever their nature, they seemed to be so much the 

 creatures of these conditions as to be unable to survive 

 under those which followed. 



It seems certain, at all events, that these bodies re- 

 sembling Fungus-spores originated separately in different 

 parts of the solution. And neither have the real spores 

 which they resemble been observed to multiply either 

 by fission or gemmation: they have not even been 

 found aggregated together in a fashion which would 

 suggest the probability of this method of multiplica- 

 tion. The real spores have likewise been seen in 

 gradually diminishing sizes, down to the smallest 

 visible specks. 



What, then, is the origin of the plastide-particles 

 which develop into Bacteria, Torul*, or other low forms 

 of life that so soon swarm in infusions of animal or 

 vegetable substances, and in certain saline or ammo- 

 niacal solutions ? Do they owe their origin to the 

 multiplication of germs pre-existing in the air, the 



1 We may, perhaps, connect this possibility with the well-known fact 

 that milk, beer, and other fluids are so very prone to turn sour during a 

 thunder-storm, or whilst it is threatening. 



