Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-07-04
Farm and FarestM.
THE ORHGI.v or LIFE.

In the first place, at the very outset, we
find one singular, universal fact. All ami
mails, without exception, high or low, of
whatever ultimate completely or simplici-
ty of structure, originate from eggs, and
from eggs of the same character. do not
mean 10 be understood that there is no 9TH
err mode of multiplying. Some animals,
as corals for instance, many hydroids, and
other low organisms, reproduce them
selves by budding or by division of the
parent stock. But they also, at some time
or other, produce eggs, and thus bear their
testimony to the general law of Nature
which applies to the whole animal king
dom without exception. Indeed, the seed
in plants has the same structure as the So
called ovarian eggs in animals, and thus
we may speak of all organized beings, veg
etable or animal, as multiplying by eggs.
The discovery that this great law applies
to the higher animals also. is comparative
ly recent
1t is only fifty years since Carl Ernst
Won Baer made his wonderful researches
on the egg Of the dog and rabbit, and an
nounced that the mammal has an ovarian
egg identical with that of all other verte-
brates, and with that of articulates, mol
lusks, and radiates. The discovery OF this
universal law that all organized beings
multiply by the same means, is certainly
one of the greatest an ! most startling gen.
civilizations of modern times. 1t gives us
the broadcast ground for our inquiry into
their ultimate relations, since they have all
one starting point. At first it may seem to
simplify the inquiry; but the moment we
leave the point at which all animals seem
alike, and enter upon the various phases o.!
transfo rmations TO be gone through before
they reach the adult condition, a field OF
study opens before us sufficient to fill
many lifetimes. We come upon series of
phenome ma of the deepest interest, but Of
ten in their first aspect very perplexing.
There are transient phases in the growth of
the higher animals, during which they re-
semble the permanent final conditions of
adult animals lower down in the same
type; having, that is, IA like structure, but
of inferior development. These COMPARE
sons cannot, however, be carried on out
side the limits Of one and the same type
You may compare quadruped in certain
phases of its growth with the adult condi-
ton of some lower kinds of vertebrates,
and be amazed at the resemblance; but you
cannot carry the comparison over into the
type of articulates, or int any other type
of the animal kingdom based upon diff
ferent plan. Within each type, the devel-
opment has a character as distinct AS the
plan on which the type is built An in
sect, for instance, can neve: at any time of its
development, amer il has passed out of that
universal condition of the ovarian egg to
which l alluded be compared to an oyster
or fish, but it passes through phases
where it can hardly be distinguished from
worm; that is, in the course of its devel-
opment 1t bears transient likeness 10 the
adult condition of a being lower in the
type ofartculates TO which they both belong.
In short, every animal belonging to any
one Of the higher groups, during the trans
formations by which he reaches the adult
state, may pass through modified condi-
tons, in each of which he resembles some
being of his own type of the animal king
dom for whom that condition is final
Enough is known of the transformations
of animals now, 10 make this generaliza-
ton perfectly trustworthy one; although
the number of illustrations is small.
Prof. A1dSSiz.