IV.] 



THE COMMON FROG. 



M 



reproduced its kind, and this in spite of every eftbrt 

 made to promote reproduction by experiments as to 

 diet, and as to putting together males and females both 

 transformed, also transformed males with females 

 untransformed, and males untransformed with females 

 transformed. Indeed, the sexual organs seem even 

 to become atrophied, in these transformed individuals. 

 Moreover, all this time the untransformed individuals 

 have gone on bringing forth young with the utmost 

 fecundity, no care or trouble on the part of their 

 guardians being required to effect it. 



Fig. 21.— The A.xoloil. 



A fact more noteworthy could hardly be imagined 

 in support of the view of specific genesis put forward 

 recently.^ Here we have a rapid and extreme trans- 

 formation, taking place according to an unknown in- 

 ternal law of the species which transforms itself. No 

 one, moreover, has been able to detect the conditions 

 which determine such transformation (though it takes 

 place under the eyes, and in the midst of the ex- 

 periments, of its observersj. This latter fact affords 



^ See " Genesis of Species," chap. xi. 



