330 Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations. 



* cumbent medium (the hydrozoa), in which the entire ani- 

 mal is little more than stomach, with yet very defective 

 organs of locomotion. The next class in development brings 

 the radiates and annulates ; in the former of which, the 

 actinozoa and corals, both radial and cylindrical develop- 

 ment take place in a variety of forms ; while in the annu- 

 lates, the Crustacea and insects, the cylindrical action pre- 

 dominates. Like the formation of physical atoms in a line 

 by chemical combination, so vital longitudinal develop- 

 ment forms itself into segments in its course, attached it 

 may be as in the worm, insect or parasite, or even finally 

 detached as in the aphides, the ant, the bee, etc. In another 

 class, the mollusca, the relation between the radiating force 

 and that of the resisting medium is such as to produce a 

 high degree of desmoid action, resulting in the formation 

 of a hard shell or coating to protect a body of very soft con- 

 sistence ; through which covering no polar protrusion can 

 occur, and of course no locomotive organs can appear until 

 some modification happens between the dorsal and ventral 

 valves, as will be seen by comparing the lamellibranchiates 

 with the gasteropodes. 



Leaving aside the protozoades and coelenterates, all the 

 remaining and higher classes of animals are endowed with 

 digestive, locomotive, and perceptive organs and powers. 

 The protoplasmic substance out of which all primordial life 

 originated, was formed by admixture and deposit of ele- 

 ments at the bottoms of ocean waters. These waters and 

 their contents are permeated with atmospheric air and 

 other gaseous substances, with the solar radiations of heat 

 and light, and with the circulating electro-magnetic cur- 

 rents constantly evolved from the revolving and rotating 

 earth by the sun's action. The vital protoplasm was there- 

 fore the combined resultant of the chemic, calorific, lumi- 

 nific, and elective forces of the cosmos, and thus compe- 

 tent to enter into conspiration with encountering homoge- 



