Picture - Cosmic Polymath

130
DESIGN IN NATURE
If we now turn to Badhamia utricularis we encounter an organism which may fitly be regarded as an mter-
mediate or connecting link between the plant and the ammal (Fig. 31). This plant-animal, if ^
^^/^^^^^^^^^
the expression, which has no definite shape, advances upon its food m successive waves by means of its P^^^
or sarcode-a form of protoplasm. It is endowed with what are virtually rhythmic
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^^^''^^'''f''''2l^^^l
it not only advances but retires. It Uves upon fungi, and these it devours by any part of its substance,
absorption and assimilation of food are of the simplest description.
. _ ^ ^ , ^, ,,^, .,,^^8 itself bv
The organism is active and quiescent by turns-that is, it rests and feeds at intervals. It ^ °f"x/rhow
means of spores Its sensitiveness is of a low type, as are also its powers of digestion and assimilation. It is, how
Ter blved to exercise a rudimentary form of secretion and excretion. Its movements are certainly very remark-
'
aM t totther BadMmi. ntricularis must be credited with the double hnes of communication and of force
Fig. 31. BadMrnia utricularis in its resting, active, and|feeding state."!.
A. Sclerotium or dry state of Badhamia, x i.
B. to E. Plasmodium of Badhamia advancing on section of stem of Agaricus melleus. B, drawn at 12.25 P.M. ; 0, at 12.40 P.M. ;
D, at 1 P.M. ; and E, at 2 p.m., x 3|.
F. Young spores of Badhamia, showing amoeboid movements, the lower spore at right hand of figure changing its shape in the
course of a few minutes to that seen at tlie extreme left of the figure, x 565.
G. Vegetable substance dissolved by plasmodium of Badhaiiiiu diminishing in size from left to right of figure, taken at intervals of
about a quarter of an hour, x 250 (after Listei').
claimed for the sensitive and insectivorous plants. It could not otherwise search for, find, and devour its food and
get quit of waste products.
It would be an endless task to trace the double lines of communication and of force throughout the lowest and
lower animal series, as with the means of research at our disposal at present it is impossible to discover when the
nervous system first makes its appearance. Enough has been said to show that double lines of communication and
of force are a necessity, and exist in one or other form, visible or invisible.
As bearing on the non-necessity of nerve matter as a vehicle of communication and of force it may be stated
that even in the highest animals in their early stages of development neither nerves nor brains are present. As a
matter of fact, development has proceeded to an advanced stage before either make their appearance. Clrowth and
movement occur independently of nerves. In the anencephalous human fcetus the child is full grown notwithstanding
the absence of a brain, which is the central controlling power of the nervous system. The lines of communication