Thoughts on Species. ^ 371 



Turn now to the organic world. The individual is involved 

 in the germ-cell from which it proceeds. That cell possesses 

 certain inherent qualities or powers, bearing a definite relation 

 to external nature, so that, when having its appropriate nidus or 

 surrounding conditions, it will grow, and develop out each organ 

 and member to the completed result, and this, both as to all 

 chemical changes, and the evolution of the structure which be- 

 longs to it as a subordinate to some kingdom, class, order, genus 

 and species in nature. The germ-cell of an organic being deve- 

 lopes a specific result ; and like the molecule of oxygen, it must 

 correspond to a measured quota or specific law of force. We 

 cannot apply the measure, as in the inorganic kingdom, for we 

 have learned no method or unit of comparison. But it must 

 nevertheless be, true, that a specific predetermined amount, or 

 condition, or law of force, is an equivalent of every germ-cell in 

 the kingdoms of life. I do not mean to say that there is but 

 one kind of force ; but that whatever the kind or kinds, it has a 

 numerical value or law,' although human arithmetic may never 

 give it expression. 



A species among living beings, then, as well as inorganic, is 

 based on a specefic amount or condition of concentered force de- 

 fined in the act or law of creation. 



Any one species has its specific value, or law of force' ; another, 

 its value ; and so for all : and we perceive the fundamental no- 

 tion of the distinction between species when we view them from 

 this potential stand-point. The species, in any particular case, 

 began its existence when the first germ-cell or individual was 

 created ; and if several germ-cells of equivalent force were cre- 

 ated, or several individuals, each was but a repetition of the 

 other ; the species is in the potential nature of the individual, 

 whether one or many individuals exist. 



Now in organic beings, — unlike the inorganic, — there is a 

 cycle' of progress involving growth and decline. The oxygen 

 molecule may be eternal as far as any thing in its nature goes. 

 But the germ cell is but an incipient state in a cycle of changes, 

 and is not the same for two successive instants ; and this cycle 

 is such that it includes in its flow, a reproduction, after an inter- 

 val, of a precise equivalent of the parent germ-cell. Thus an 

 indefinite perpetuation of the germ-cell is in fact effected ; yet it 

 is not mere endless being, but like evolving like in an unlimited 

 round. Hence, when individuals multiply from generation to 



