1904.] MONTGOMERY — MORPHOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY. 367 



first male, then (for a limited period) hermaphrodite (functionally 

 male and female), lastly female ; but since there is the same cycle 

 of reproductive conditions in each individual of the species, the 

 individual as a whole is ranked as hermaphrodite. This holds for 

 some Nemeriini, Felecypoda, Spo?igiarta, most Turbellaria, Myzos- 

 tomida, and for numerous other cases. These show the male condi- 

 tion to be established at the earlier ontogenetic period, before the 

 individual has attained its complete growth ; consequently the 

 male condition is morphologically inferior to the female. There 

 is, however, another state of hermaphroditism known as proterogyny 

 (protogyny), with the female condition preceding the male. This 

 is of course the reverse of protandry ; it is very restricted in its 

 occurrence, and is described only for certain pulmonate Gastero- 

 poda and for the tunicate Salpa, cases that need reexamination. 



Hermaphroditism in the strict sense implies a condition of union 

 of sexes in one individual, not an indifferent, non-sexual state. With 

 this definition it is probable that hermaphroditism is a secondary 

 condition wherever it is found, and not a primitive one. The 

 earliest phyletic state is non-sexual, as in certain generations of 

 some Protozoa. These are of anatomically distinct sexual individ- 

 uals, as shown in the sporulation generations of some Protozoa 

 (with micro-gametes and macro-gametes), and in most of the 

 Metazoa. While hermaphroditism has appeared independently in 

 different groups, such as the Platodes, the Mollusca, Tuntcata, etc., 

 where it occurs it is frequently the case that the more primitive 

 members of the group are dioecious (with separate sexes). No 

 Protozoan can be correctly termed hermaphrodite, but sexual or 

 non -sexual. Voivox cannot be considered either Protophyte or 

 Protozoan, but Metaphyte or Metazoan, since it contains distinct 

 germ cells and tissue cells; it accordingly is no exception.^ But 

 however the hermaphroditic state may be interpreted, it stands as 

 an indubitable fact that in most hermaphrodites the male condi- 

 tion occurs during the less perfect stage of the individual. 



In speaking of the male as being so frequently the more arrested, 

 more embryonic individual, corroborative exam})les are found in 



^ It is indeed strange that Voivox, at this late date of our knowledge, should 

 still be grouped with the Protista. The fundamental criterion of the Metaphyta 

 and Metazoa is not number of cells, nor their specialization, but the possession 

 of cells which are reproductive and other cells which are not. This is the only 

 truly important physiological distinction. 



