COSMIC PHILOSOPHY 



nervous system of the embryo, unite into a 

 single chain. The same kind of integration may 

 be traced in the nervous systems of insects ; 

 and the reproductive system of the vertebrata 



cell-wall between the nuclei ; and this notch deepens until the 

 old and new cells are quite separated from each other. Now 

 when many such primordial cells are enclosed in a common 

 membrane, so that, instead of achieving a complete separation, 

 they multiply into a jelly-like or mulberry-like mass, there is 

 formed — whether the case be taken in the animal or in the 

 vegetal kingdom — an organism of a type considerably higher 

 than the simple cell. There is an opportunity for differently 

 conditioned cells comprised in the same mass to become dif- 

 ferently modified, and thus to subserve various functions in the 

 economy of the organism. There is a chance for division and 

 combination of labour among the parts. Now the progress 

 achieved when the spheroidal members of an annuloid com- 

 pound remain partly connected, instead of separating, is pre- 

 cisely similar to this. Among the indubitably compound animals 

 of ccelenterate or molluscoid type, in which the fission is not 

 arrested, it is but seldom that the individuals stand related to 

 one another in such a way that there can be any need of their 

 severally performing diverse and specialized functions. For 

 instance, among the hydrozoa, each member of the compound 

 can get food for itself, can expand or contract its tentacles in 

 any way without affecting the general welfare of the compound. 

 But now, if the members of such a compound as the hypo- 

 thetical primitive annuloid are grouped in a linear series, there 

 must arise a difference between the conditions which affect the 

 extreme members of the series, and the conditions which affect 

 the intermediate members. And consequently there will ensue 

 an advantage to the compound in the struggle for life, if the 

 members, instead of continuing to perform identical functions 

 separately, become sufficiently united to allow of their per- 



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