162 THE EVOLUTION OF CONTINUITY 



But, though it is possible that without the aid of water- 

 pressure cells might have developed in serial filamentous 

 continuity, nevertheless it is difficult to see how the pro- 

 gressive multiplication of Continuity in the manner which 

 has occurred could have taken place in the absence of water- 

 pressure. 



One cannot, in fact, resist the impression that compres- 

 sion during development has been the constant process in the 

 evolution of the different forms of living Continuity. In 

 no other way, it is suggested, could the structural plan of 

 the sea-anemone or the medusoid be explained, nor the 

 intensified Continuity of the segmental Individuals. And 

 regarding this compression to be but an indirect result of 

 the action of everywhere-obtaining terrestrial attraction 

 (attracted water being the compressor of our theory), we 

 are consistently recognising the work of one factor all up 

 the scale. The force which binds the electrons in the atomic 

 whole, binds the atoms of the molecule ; the molecules of 

 the mass ; mass to mass ; and in binding masses of water 

 to the earth has compressed into existence the primitive 

 protoplast and all succeeding forms of Continuity. 



We cannot pretend to explain the actual way in which 

 water-pressure produced its results, but we get some hints 

 from the structural plans of the Individual types. 



If primitive Filamentous Continuity appeared as an 

 acquired variation in a discontinuously multicellular Indi- 

 vidual type, and was due to compression during develop- 

 ment, it is clear that rest under the body of compressing 

 water would be a necessity. This could only occur if the 

 zygote about to develop as a filament were of greater 

 density than the water. This might well represent the initial 

 acquired variation, and be due itself to increased water- 

 pressure ; an agency such as a strong current carrying the 

 fertilised ovum to depths where the pressure by diminishing 

 volume increased density. 



Be this as it may, if it be given that a fertilised ovum, 

 or zygote, with discontinuously multicellular potentialities, 

 were dense enough to remain at the bottom under unusual 

 water-pressure, then its development as a filament might 

 be expected for the following reasons : The zygote's density, 



