818 ANATOMY OF VERTEBRATES. 



when its irrelative repetitions resulted in the vast indefinite masses 

 of ( eozoon,' exemplifying the earliest process of ' formifaction ' or 

 organic crystallisation — than that all existing sarcodes or ' proto- 

 genes ' are the result of genetic descent from a germ or cell due 

 to a primary act of miraculous interposition. 



Some, accepting the latter alternative, teach that, while gene- 

 rations of the first-created sarcode have descended to us unchanged 

 from the period of the Laurentian limestone, other sarcodal off- 

 spring have developed and improved, or have been selected, into all 

 higher forms of living beings. I prefer, however, while indulging 

 in such speculations, to consider the various daily nomogeneously 

 developed forms of protozoal or protistal jellies, sarcodes and 

 single-celled organisms, to have been as many roots from which 

 the higher grades have ramified, than that the origin of the whole 

 organic creation is to be referred, as the Egyptian priests did that 

 of the universe, to a single Egg. 



Amber or steel when magnetised seem to exercise e selection ' : 

 they do not attract all substances alike. To the suitable ones at 

 due distance they tend to move ; but, through density of consti- 

 tution, cannot outstretch thereto ; so they draw the ' attracted ' 

 substance to themselves. If the amber be not rubbed, or the 

 steel bar otherwise magnetised, they are f dead ' to such power. 

 The movement of a free body to a magnet has always excited in- 

 terest, often wonder, from its analogy to the self-motion so com- 

 mon and apparently peculiar to ' life.' 



A speck of protogenal jelly or of sarcode, if alive, shows ana- 

 logous relations to certain substances : but the soft yielding tissue 

 allows the part next the attractive matter to move thereto, and 

 then by retraction to draw such matter into the sarcodal mass, 

 which overspreads, dissolves, and assimilates it. We say that the 

 Protogenes or Amoeba has extended a f pseudopod,' has seized its 

 prey, has drawn it in, swallowed, and digested it. No 6 organs,' 

 however, are recognisable ; neither muscle, mouth, nor stomach. 



If the portion of iron attracted by the magnet became blended 

 with the substance of its attractor, the analogy thereto of the act 

 of the abaema would be, perhaps, closer, more just, than that 

 other analogy which is expressed by terms borrowed from the 

 procedure of higher organisms. 



From certain knowledge of the homogeneous, by some termed 

 1 unorganised,' texture of Protogenes and Abcema, we cannot pre- 

 dicate of their having sensation or exercising volition. Given 

 ( life ' and suitable organic substance at due distances, the act of 

 making contact seems as inevitable, as independent of any voli- 



