132 VESTIGES OF THE 



cryptogamia, the reproductive cell does not burst, but 

 the lirst cells of the new structure are developed within 

 it, and these gradually extend, by a similar process of 

 multiplication, into that primary leaf-like expansion 

 which is the first formed structure in all plants." * 

 Here the little cell becomes directly a iilant^ the full formed 

 living being. It is also worthy of remark that, in the 

 sponges (an animal form), a gemmule detached from 

 the body of the parent, and trusting for sustentation 

 only to the fluid into which it has been cast, becomes, 

 without further process, the new creature. Further, it 

 has been recently discovered by means of the microscope, 

 that there is, as far as can be judged, a perfect resem- 

 blance between the ovum of the mammal tribes, during 

 that early stage when it is passing through the oviduct, 

 and the young of the infusory animalcules. One of the 

 most remarkable of these, the volvox globator, has exactly 

 the form of the germ which, after passing through a 

 long fcetal progress, becomes a complete mammifer, an 

 animal of the highest class. It has even been found 

 that both are alike provided with those cilia, which, pro- 

 ducing a revolving motion, or its appearance, is partly 

 the cause of the name given to this animalcule. These 

 resemblances are the more entitled to notice, that they 

 were made by various observers, distant from each other 

 at the time.t It has likewise been noted that the glo- 

 bules of the blood are reproduced by the expansion of 

 contained granules ; they are, in short, distinct organisms 

 multiplied by the same fsslparous generation. So that 

 all animated nature may be said to be based on this 

 mode of origin; the fundamental form of organic being Is 



* Carpenter's "Kepoit on the Results obtained b^ the Microscope 

 in the 8tudy of Anatomy and Physiology,'' 1843. 



t See Dr. Martin Barry on " Fissiparous Generation: '' Jamenon's 

 Journal, Oct. 1S43. 



