are explained by Geometry. 9 
it is an argument against the law of morphology which I am 
now insisting upon, that in all such cases as I have mentioned 
a spherical form is obviously a necessity imposed by some 
physical force, or in itself the most fit. These are beautiful 
facts, anything but adverse to the theory now advocated. 
They take their rise in this, that the physical forces have 
been shaped by the Creator so as to be the prime ministers of 
a pure geometry, the architects of a pure morphology, shaped 
so as to work out and to realise the behests of Omniscience, 
manifesting itself in the segmentation by matter of space and 
time, according to the laws of form, magnitude, and number. 
What particular feature, among the many eminent properties 
of the sphere, shall be fixed upon in discourse as the deter- 
mining reason of its being given to nature, depends entirely 
upon the naturalist’s point of view. The point of view of 
this communication is the ratio of the superfices of the sphere 
to its volume. But that does not forbid others. 
Forms of Development. 
Let us suppose, next, that the conditions of existence have 
become quite favourable to the deployment of life, whether it 
be that the living orgasm has abandoned a medium essentially 
unfavourable, or that the medium in which it has remained 
has become favourable ; the question now, therefore, is, what 
is the form which is suitable to this new condition of exist- 
ence? And here the answer is obviously as explicit, if not 
quite so simple, as before. The problem is now, in fact, exactly 
the converse of the former. Obviously the orgasm or living 
form now, instead of exposing to the surrounding medium the 
smallest number of particles, the smallest extent of surface, 
ought to expose the greatest extent, the largest number pos- 
sible. Thus are we led to ask, what is that geometrical form 
which, in reference to its interior, has the largest superficies ? 
Now, to this the answer is, that there may be a form which is 
all superficies. This, in fact (in a general and physical sense), 
applies to many forms, not all equally fulfilling it, indeed, but 
all legitimately included under it. Thus a circular disk, in 
contact with the ambient medium all around, is all superficies. 
Still the circumference of a circle in reference to its area being 
NEW SERIES,—VOL. XIv. NO. 1.—suLy 1861. B 
