OF LIVING FORMS; OR, MORPHOLOGY. 97 



the two meeting currents, first wrinkling a little, 

 then rise in a low wave in the hollow of the 

 fork, and flow over at the side, making their 

 way to diffuse themselves round the stem (as in 

 Fig. 19). Seen laterally, the rig> 19 



bough bulges out below the fork, 

 rather curiously and awkwardly, 

 especially if more than two boughs 

 meet at the same place, growing 

 in one plane. If the reader is 

 interested in the subject, he will 

 find strangely complicated and wonderful arrange- 

 ments of stream when smaller boughs meet larger." 



The reader will perceive how exactly this descrip- 

 tion and figure illustrate the principle. But no 

 enumeration of instances could do justice to the 

 evidence, or have any other effect than that of 

 making the unlimited seem scanty. The proof is 

 everywhere. One general fact may be referred to 

 the universally spiral form of organic bodies. 

 The most superficial glance reveals a spiral tendency 

 as a general characteristic both of the vegetable and 

 animal creation; but a minute examination traces 



7 



