Evolution and Devolution of the Elements. 33 
most electro-positive of all the known elements ; that is to say, 
they possess a very great tendency to enter into combination. 
In the second group, which possesses two free electrons and 
contains the metals of the alkaline earths, this tendency is 
great, but considerably less than in the group just mentioned. 
In the third group this tendency is still further reduced, with 
the result that the tendency of the three electrons on the 
outer ring of these elements to complete themselves into 
systems of eight is very materially smaller than in the case 
of the first two groups of the Table. Consequently, although 
we have a normally evolved series of elements from proto- 
boron, we also have an indirectly evolved element in carbon. 
We venture to suggest that this may be explained as 
follows : — 
The element proto-boron in its normal process of develop- 
ment, produces the element boron. It. however, is capable 
of proceeding along the lines of indirect evolution also, and 
thus gives rise to the element carbon. Instead of proceeding 
directly along the normal lines from boron to aluminium it 
does not add on complete rings of electrons, but only takes up 
an insufficient number of sets of eight electrons. These sets of 
eight electrons are absorbed into the outer ring, with the 
result that a new outer ring is formed of different shape, viz., 
a tetravalent ring. The three electrons in the outer ring of 
boron are not sufficiently desirous of forming complete 
systems of eight to compel the evolution to proceed as far as 
aluminium, but they will allow the incorporation of a small 
number of sets of eight electrons, with the result that instead 
of abstracting five electrons to complete their own system 
they only abstract four, so that the outer ring of the new 
element becomes tetravalent. The acceptance of a smaller 
number of the sets of eight electrons than is necessary to 
produce a complete ring is possible by the incorporation of 
these sets in the previously existing ring, so that a new ring 
of an altered type is produced. This new type of ring we 
define as a " distorted M ring, and we may go so far as to say 
it has a greater valency than the original ring. Now we 
would point out that when the process of indirect evolution 
takes place, and the so-called distorted ring is produced, the 
first step is the establishment of the new ring which then 
proceeds to develop normally until the first position of 
maximum stability is reached. Thus, in the indirect evolution 
from proto-boron, the first stage is the incorporation of the 
necessary sets of eight corpuscles with the establishment of 
the tetravalent ring belonging to the first family of indirect 
derivatives (carbon, silicon, &c). This tetravalent ring then 
Phil. Mag. S. 6. Vol. 15. No. .85. Jan. 1908. D 
