570
been produced by the direct action of the environment,
and therefore must have been produced by Natural Selec
tion ; or at least to indicate how it might have been
accomplished by Natural Selection.
In reference to the development of the amoeba, Mr.
Spencer says :—
“ The limiting membrane becomes in higher infusoria definite and
often complex, showing that the selection of favourable variations has
had largely to do with its formation.”—(/>. jj.)
But why should the believer in Mixed Darwinism affirm
that definite and complex structures must have been
produced by Natural Selection, and take that for granted
without attempting to discuss the direct action of the
environment ?
We have next to consider the process of invagination,
by which the gastrula stage of development is attained.
Mr. Spencer gives the following illustration of the
process :—
“ Take a small indiarubber ball, not of the inflated kind, nor of the
solid kind, but of the kind about an inch or so in diameter, with
a small hole, through which, under pressure, the air escapes. Sup
pose that, instead of consisting of indiarubber, its wall consists
of small cells, made polyhedral in form by mutual pressure, and
united together. This will represent the blastoderm. Now with the
finger thrust in one side of the ball until it touches the other, so
making a cup. This action will stand for the process of invagination.”
—(f. 64.)
“ If we go back to the first stage in which Protozoa, having by
repeated fissions formed a cluster, then arranged themselves into
a hollow sphere, as do the protophytes forming a volvox (Mr.
Spencer argues that), originally alike all over its surface, the hollow
sphere of ciliated units thus formed would, if not quite spherical,
assume a constant attitude when moving through the water; and
hence one part of the spheroid would more frequently than the rest
come in contact with nutritive matters to be taken in. A division of
labour resulting from such a variation being advantageous, and
tending, therefore, to increase in descendants, would end in a differ
entiation like that shown in the gemmules of various low types of