46 THE EVOLUTION OF CONTINUITY 



by gametes, for the multicellularity is discontinuous. In the 

 higher forms of Continuity the case is very different. 



To repeat ; the course 



Amoeba — Spore — Amoeba 



does not constitute a growth-cycle, as the second amoeba is 

 not reproduced but produced ; it is not identical with its 

 predecessor, but a stage nearer towards becoming, in its future 

 product, gametes of one kind or the other. Nor does 



Spore — Gamete — Zygote — Spore 



represent a cycle, but two parts of different growth-cycles. 

 The real growth-cycle is from conjugated gametes to restored 

 gametes ; the Individual cycle. 



The growth-cycle is therefore correctly figured as above. 



S . 4: — -^ s c^^^dzy 

 X 



/J. A MX 



yi/i/\i\)\\\\ 



Fig. 4. — To illustrate the law of " 2 to the Nth minus 1." 



The developing hsemamceba Individual increases by 

 geometrical progression, as is shown in Pig. 4. Here the 

 gametes are represented by the letter G, and all the stages 

 leading to them are evanescent. B gives rise to, or becomes 

 32 gametes, while the intermediate stages, including B, 

 number 31. The full number of gametes is equal to 2 to the 

 Nth power, and that of the intermediate stages, alone, or 

 with the addition of the gametes, equals 2 to the Nth minus 1. 

 Thus the full Individual in our diagram would be X plus 126 

 stages plus 128 gametes, or 2 to the 8th minus 1. The true 



