1 



96 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 





aggregates (for compound molecules are such) are sue- 

 cessively generated ^ as throughout Evolution in general. 

 More complex or heterogeneous aggregates are so made 

 to arise, one out of another j as throughout Evolution 

 in general. . . . And it is by the action of the suc- 

 cessively higher forms on one another, joined with the 

 action of environing conditions, that the highest forms 

 are reached j as throughout Evolution in general i. 

 ,If, however, we may suppose that by a process of 



*' h these . 



unite 



\f 



ill not 



of b"i«^ 



link 



hich they 



(i<i 





there 



are 



habit 



and phosphor 



holding tog 



eth 



atomic 



andth 



Evolution, under the influence of natural forces, any I timate suppos: 



such complex and unstable bodies as those to which 



of sulphur ma) 



we have been referring could have come into being in -^^^^{xz forir 



remote periods of the Earth's history, then scarcely any 

 conceivable limit could be placed upon the variations 



phorus.' 

 These then 



which might still result under the continued play of I the nascent ai 

 incident physical forces. In the first place, most of \ environment ■ 





of chan 



ge an 



g mc 



these compounds whose molecules are very complex, 



are found to be capable of existing under many dif- f themselves th 



ferent isomeric modifications, Trotem^ for instance, 



according to Prof. Frankland, is capable of existing 



under probably at least a thousand isomeric forms ; and 



this is the substance which, in one state or another, 



enters so largely into the fabric of living things, as to 



be, above all else, the organizable m.aterial. But even 



mo< 



chemical 



more 



favourable still for the origination and developmental 



becomin 

 stamp the 



Present them : 



H for the 



continued 



■^^^^n thoua} 

 ''^ therefore 



acti 



re- 



variation of living things. 'There are 



facts,' Mr. 





1 Appendix to ' Principles of Biology' (published separately), P- 4^2- 



"DOlti 



ena 



takir 



^OL. 



I. 



