ON GENERATION. 371 



view to strengthen this position, I shall add this one from 

 among a large number of observations. Some persons in these 

 countries cultivate orange trees with singular care and economy, 

 and the fruit of these trees, which, in the course of the first 

 year, will grow to the size of the point of the thumb, comes to 

 maturity the following summer. This fruit is perfect in all 

 respects, save and except that it is without pips or seeds. 



Pondering upon this with myself, I thought that I had here 

 an example of the barren egg, which is produced by the hen 

 without the concurrence of the cock, and which comprises every- 

 thing that is visible in a fruitful egg, but is still destitute of 

 germinant seed ; as if it were the same thing that was imparted 

 by the cock, in virtue of which a wind-egg becomes a fruitful egg, 

 which in warmer countries is dispensed by the sun, and causes 

 the fruit of the orange tree to be produced replete with prolific 

 seed. It is as if the summer in England sufficed for the pro- 

 duction of the fruit only, as the hen for the production of the 

 egg, but like the female fowl was impotent as a pro-genetrix; 

 whilst in other countries enjoying the sun's light in larger 

 proportion, the summer acquired the characters of the male, 

 and perfected the work of generation. 



Thus far have we treated this subject by the way, that, from 

 the instance of the egg, we might learn what conditions were 

 required in the prime efficient in the generation of animals ; 

 for it is certain, that in the egg there is an agent, as there is 

 also in every conception and germ, which is not merely in- 

 fused by the mother, but is first communicated in coitu by the 

 father, by means of his spermatic fluid ; and which is itself pri- 

 marily endowed with such virtue by heaven and the sun, or 

 the Supreme Creator. It is equally manifest, that this agent, 

 existing in every egg and seed, is so imbued with the qualities 

 of the parents, that it builds up the offspring in their likeness, 

 not in its own ; and this mingled also as proceeding from both 

 united in copulation. Now, as all this proceeds with the most 

 consummate foresight and intelligence, the presence of the 

 Deity therein is clearly proclaimed. 



But we shall have to speak at greater length upon this sub- 

 ject, when we strive to show what it is that remains with the 

 female immediately after intercourse, and where it is stored ; 

 at the same time that we explain since there is nothing visi- 



