LIVING FORMS. THE LAW OF FORM. 119 



as they consist in motion, they conform to the nature 

 of motion we may be quite sure. The structure of the 

 germ must be such as to determine the operation of 

 whatever chemical or other forces come into play within 

 it, to produce motion in these particular directions." 



I have thus sought to leave the door open to any 

 other agencies, the operation of which in determining 

 form it might be found necessary to recognize. But 

 from the foregoing remarks, it will be seen that I 

 believe there is another mode of regarding the sub- 

 ject, in which all these agencies may be viewed as 

 instances of the law of least resistance," and by an 

 extension of the sphere of vision become included 

 among the very phenomena to which they appear as 

 an exception. Under the one aspect the living 

 structure is regarded by itself; in which case two, 

 or more, laws are concerned in determining its form ; 

 under the other, it is viewed as a part, and in rela- 

 tion to the whole of external nature, and then all the 

 forces affecting its structure come within one for- 

 mula. It would be an error to look on these two 

 modes of regarding the subject as opposed. Each is 

 appropriate to its own object. 



