rn 



io6 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



But such things are not only true concerning the 

 germs of plants ; somewhat parallel phenomena are pre* 

 sented even by adult organisms in the animal series. 

 The ^ Sloths "^ of Spallanzani^ the Rotifers^ and the Free 

 Nematoids or Anguillules^ certainly should be taken into 

 account by those who would wish to arrive at correct 

 conceptions as to Life. These animals, having com- 

 paratively definite and complex organizations, are now 



/ 



/ 



Fig. I. Animals found in tufts of Moss and Lichen. 



a. Plectus parietinus, a Free Nematoid. 



b. Rotifer vulgaris, the common Wheel Animalcule. 



c. Eniydium testudo, one of the ' Sloths ' of Spallanzani. 



notorious for their tenacity of Life, their power of re- 

 sisting the most adverse external conditions, and, 

 above all, for their power of resuming active vital mani- 

 festations, after these have been completely in abeyance 

 for five, ten, fifteen, or even more than twenty years'. 



^ More complete details concerning these properties may be found in 

 a memoir on ' The Anatomy and Physiology of the Nematoids, Parasitic 



/ 



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) 



giving 



to 



cretbei" 



V 



#^ 



tafts 



oi^^ 



eke 

 iiig 



out 



their 



exi 



a 



more 



or 



le 



during 



the 



certainly 



{ 



as 



they 

 upon 

 combs 



the po 

 alike, in 

 actuality, 



livin 



(J 

 V 



of Egypt 



tentialit) 

 order 



the f 

 restore to them 

 ments under th 

 the absence of 

 which Life, in ; 



and Free.' Pliiloso] 

 to Nematoids I ha 

 of which we have 1 

 seatatives of four 

 ¥«'«»cks, and Cei 

 H Rkbditis, marir 

 * for the very op 

 '«■> ^fter the short 

 '^^' all the Free X 



P;94),' There are 

 ; 7 devitalise : 



tt r '^^^ 



>H to fo, 



^oapletei 



ci 



The 2 '''' '^^ 

 '''gins to , °^ ^^ 



