Periodic Activity. 119 



period of quiescence usually depends upon the 

 species of the creature, it being as a rule very 

 definitely marked. It continues for a time, then 

 appear again the signs of the coming season of dis- 

 quiet, and that strange drama of life is played over 

 again, — the drama so fraught with meaning for the 

 future; the drama upon the successful playing of 

 which depends the continuance of life on the 

 earth. 



As the body of the animal grows more complex, 

 so do the forces that play upon and control it 

 express themselves in a more involved manner. 



In the single-celled organisms we find an almost 

 mechanical union of two cells. 



The protozoa which unite are drawn together 

 with as little consciousness probably as are the 

 magnet and the iron. This attraction which causes 

 them to seek each other can hardly be dignified by 

 the name of love, though the germ of love is cer- 

 tainly there. 



In more complex, but still low, forms of life, we 

 find any male attracted by any female, as any bit 

 of iron is attracted by any magnet; that the 

 hunger of one set of cells for the other be appeased 

 is the only consideration. 



This too, if it can be called love at all, is but the 

 dawn of that great passion. 



Higher, in certain of the insects for instance, we 

 find involved new forces; sex attraction is no 

 longer the simple attraction of one cell to another. 



