270 THE FITNESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT 



relations and reactions, heats 

 of reaction, instability, etc., 

 which together result in maxi- 

 mal fitness in certain respects, 

 e.g. as sources of matter and 

 energy for the processes of 

 metabolism, as sources of com- 

 plex structures, as the means 

 of establishing complex func- 

 tions, etc. 

 VI. Oceans are formed automatically in 



the cosmic process. 

 VII. The ocean possesses unique properties, 



e.g. mobility, richness in dis- 

 solved substances, durability, 

 and stability of physico-chem- 

 ical conditions, depending 

 chiefly upon the properties of 

 water and carbonic acid, which 

 together result in maximal fit- 

 ness in certain respects, e.g. 

 as milieu, and as source of 

 matter for the processes of 

 metabolism, to moderate and 

 equalize temperature, etc. 

 VIII. The physical and chemical properties 



which have been taken into 

 consideration include nearly 

 all those which are known to 



