CELLS AND ORGANISATIONS 117 



of motion, the perceptive power and intelligence they 

 manifest, form an astounding outcome from the tiniest of 

 sources. In the processes of building the advances are 

 numerous, the number of stages is great, the amount of 

 differentiation is enormous, the minuteness of the various 

 kinds of cells, their fineness and suitableness, their 

 differentiation taking place at the right point in the 

 right manner, exhibit to us phenomena the most amazing. 

 And yet as far as science sees, the characteristics and 

 energies by which results so varied and on so great a 

 scale are produced, are laid up in the ovules. In them 

 are concentrated the wonders that develop into the 

 animal. There must be in each sperm and ovule 

 relations of form, there must be relations of sperm to 

 ovule, there must be such a placing and balancing of 

 forces, that in a suitable environment each kind cannot 

 but operate and advance, and differentiate and build, 

 until it builds up its own proper organisations. There 

 must be in them a constitution measured in all its parts, 

 adjusted for the production of every advance and 

 differentiation, for making them at the right moment, 

 at the right point. In this work the egg-cells do every- 

 thing which we naturally and necessarily ascribe to mind. 

 They select, they measure, they shape, they collocate, they 

 adapt, they adjust. 



They select from nourishment the right materials for 

 flesh and blood, and skin and bones, and muscles and 

 nerves, for heart and brain, for liver and lungs. Their 

 is selection on a large scale, and requiring the nicest dis- 

 crimination. They measure. The sizes of all structures 

 are carefully attended to. The length and thickness, the 

 fineness and strength, of the various fibres are accurately 

 determined. A law of symmetry is beautifully observed. 

 Corresponding parts are built up of the same size, and 



