we
see see 1869 1872 | probably behold 1866 |
the act of metamorphosis
performed in a primary and gradual manner. performed in a primary and gradual manner. 1869 1872 |
in its natural or primary progress. 1866 |
↑4 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 | Many insects, and especially certain crustaceans, show us what wonderful changes of structure can be effected during development.
Such changes, however, reach their climax in the so-called alternate generations of some of the lower animals.
It is, for instance, an astonishing fact that a delicate branching coralline, studded with polypi and attached to a submarine rock, should produce, first by budding and then by transverse division, a host of huge floating jelly-fishes; and that these should produce eggs, from which are hatched swimming animalcules, which attach themselves to rocks and become developed into branching corallines; and so on in an endless cycle.
The belief in the essential identity of the process of alternate generation and of ordinary metamorphosis has been greatly strengthened by Wagner's discovery of the larva or maggot of a fly, namely the Cecidomyia, producing asexually other larvæ, and these others, which finally are developed into mature males and females, propagating their kind in the ordinary manner by eggs.
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Many insects, and especially certain crustaceans, show us what wonderful Many insects, and especially certain crustaceans, show us what wonderful 1869 |
What great 1866 |
changes of structure
can be
effected during
..
development. development. 1869 | development 1866 |
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..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
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....... 1869 | crustaceans. 1866 |
Such changes, however, reach their climax in Such changes, however, reach their climax in 1869 |
When, however, we read of the several wonderful cases, recently discovered, of 1866 |
the so-called alternate generations of
some of the lower animals. some of the lower animals. 1869 |
animals, we come to the climax of developmental transformation. 1866 |
It is, for instance, an astonishing fact It is, for instance, an astonishing fact 1869 |
What fact can be more astonishing than 1866 |
that a delicate branching coralline, studded with polypi and attached to a submarine rock, should produce, first by budding and then by transverse division, a host of huge floating jelly-fishes; and that these should produce eggs, from which are hatched swimming animalcules, which attach themselves to rocks and become developed into branching corallines; and so on in an endless
cycle.
↑1 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1869 1872; present in 1866 | Hence it will be seen that I follow those naturalists who look at all cases of alternate generation, as essentially modifications of the process of budding, which may supervene at any stage of development.
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The belief in the essential identity The belief in the essential identity 1869 |
This view 1866 |
of the
process of process of 1869 |
close connection between 1866 |
alternate
generation generation 1869 | generations 1866 |
and
of ordinary of ordinary 1869 | ordinary 1866 |
metamorphosis metamorphosis 1869 | metamorphoses 1866 |
has
..
been
greatly
strengthened by
Wagners Wagners 1869 | Wagner's 1866 |
discovery of the larva
or or 1869 |
of a Cecidomyia,— that is of the 1866 |
maggot of a
fly, namely the Cecidomyia, fly, namely the Cecidomyia, 1869 |
fly,— 1866 |
producing asexually
...OMIT 1869 |
within its body 1866 |
other and similar
larvæ.
..
..
..
..
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↑5 blocks not present in 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869; present in 1872 | It may be worth notice that when Wagner's remarkable discovery was first announced, I was asked how was it possible to account for the larvæ of this fly having acquired the power of asexual reproduction.
As long as the case remained unique no answer could be given.
But already Grimm has shown that another fly, a Chironomus, reproduces itself in nearly the same manner, and he believes that this occurs frequently in the Order.
It is the pupa, and not the larva, of the Chironomus which has this power; and Grimm further shows that this case, to a certain extent, "unites that of the Cecidomyia with the parthenogenesis of the Coccidæ;"— the term parthenogenesis implying that the mature females of the Coccidæ are capable of producing fertile eggs without the concourse of the male.
Certain animals belonging to several classes are now known to have the power of ordinary reproduction at an unusually early age; and we have only to accelerate parthenogenetic reproduction by gradual steps to an earlier and earlier age,— Chironomus showing us an almost exactly intermediate stage, viz., that of the pupa— and we can perhaps account for the marvellous case of the Cecidomyia.
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↑Subtitle not present 1866 1869 1872 |
Embryology
.— 1859 1860 1861 |
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