THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 123 



redistributions can still be made., though much less 

 easily; and in which, being changeable less easily, 

 they have a certain persistence a persistence which 

 can, however, become decided only where further 

 solidification stops further redistribution/ 



Now molecular motion is locked up in living matter 

 in various ways. In addition to the fact of its semi- 

 fluid consistence, it contains chemical combinations 

 which even surpass those of the colloid molecule in 

 intrinsic mobility. Three out of its four principal 

 ultimate constituents are mobile gases ; whilst it is a 

 peculiarity of one of them, nitrogen, that instead of 

 giving out heat when it combines with other elements, 

 it absorbs heat, so that ' besides carrying with it into 

 the liquid or solid compound it forms, the motion 

 which previously constituted it a gas, it takes up 

 additional motion.' 



Thus the form of matter which above all others 

 would seem to possess the necessary requisites for the 

 abundant occurrence of secondary redistributions, is 

 living matter in which there is embodied an enor- 

 mous amount of potential and actual motion, whilst it, 

 at the same time, possesses a degree of cohesion that 

 permits temporary fixity of arrangement. 



And accordingly, as Mr. Spencer says, c The clearest, 

 most numerous, and most varied illustrations of the 

 advance in multiformity that accompanies the advance 

 in integration, are furnished by living organic bodies/ 

 He then adds: Distinguished as we found these to 



