CHAPTER VIII 



THE EVOLUTION OF A MOTHER. 



The Evolution of a Mother, in spite of its half- 

 humorous, half-sacrilegious sound, is a serious study 

 in Biology. Even on its physical side this was the 

 most stupendous task Evolution ever undertook. It 

 began when the first bud burst from the first plant- 

 cell, and was only completed when the last and most 

 elaborately wrought pinnacle of the temple of Nature 

 crowned the animal creation. 



What was that pinnacle? There is no more in- 

 structive question in science. For the answer brings 

 into relief one of the expression-points of Nature — one 

 of these great teleological notes of which the natural 

 order is so full, and of which this is by far the most 

 impressive. Run the eye for a moment up the scale 

 of animal life. At the bottom are the first animals, 

 the Protozoa. The Coelenterata follow, then in mixed 

 array, the Echinoderms, Worms, and Molluscs. Above 

 these come the Pisces, then the Amphibia, then the 

 Reptilia, then the Aves, then — What? The Mam- 

 malia, The Mothers. There the series stops. 

 Nature has never made anything since. 



Is it too much to say that the one motive of organio 



267 



