SPONTANEOUS GENERATION. 173 



.o assign to them a spontaneous origin altogether Incompati- 

 ble with what we know of organic development. Their 

 rapid appearance is not at all astonishing, when we reflect 

 ihvd some mushrooms attain a considerable size in a few 

 hours, but yet pass through all the phases of regular growth ; 

 and, indeed, since we have ascertained the difTerent modes of 

 generation among the lower animals, no substantial difficul- 

 ties to the ax^oni " 07n?ie vivum sx ovo,'''' (275,) any long'^r 

 exist. 



15 • 



