306 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



weaken the spermatic force transmitted to such successive 

 generations of cells." 



Quatrefages justly calls this a seductive theory ; but adds, 

 that not even the imposing authority of Owen's name has 

 gained acceptance for it. The first objection I should raise is, 

 that the assumi)tion of the " prolific force " belongs to meta- 

 physiology. The second objection is, that it obliges us to 

 embrace the paradox of the greatest effect arising from the 

 most diminished force, since, according to it, the seed, in its 

 primal vigour, only produces buds — in its exhaustion, flowers; 

 the egg, in its primal vigour, only produces Polypes and 

 Larvae — in its exhaustion. Medusae and perfect Aphides. Or 

 must we regard the Flower, Medusa, and perfect Aphis as 

 inferior and arrested forms, of which Leaf, Polype, and 

 Larva are the matured beings ? The celebrated Wolff main- 

 tained that the Flower was an imperfect organism — flowers 

 and fnictification, according to him, being the consequences 

 of arrest of development ; * and much may be said for this 

 hypothesis, although we must finally reject it, when we know 

 that there are plants which flower before they put forth 

 leaves, and that the larval Apliis is confessedly an imperfect 

 insect. 



A tliird, and far more fatal, objection is, that under 

 suitable conditions the plant will continue putting forth 

 buds, the Polype Polypes, and the larval Aphis larvae, to 

 an indefinite extent. The " prolific force,'' instead of dimi- 

 nishing, by repeated subdivisions of the cells, retains its 

 primitive fertility. Kyber kept a plant, with lai-val Aphides, 



• Wolff : Theorie von der Generation. 17C4. § 80, et seq. 



