CAUSE OF HEREDITY 299 



attested the same fact. These globules, which have fast- 

 ened themselves about the head of the spermatozoid have 

 each a volume double, that of the head. Now according 

 to Welcker, the weight of the globule of human blood is 

 0.0008 of a milligram ; allowing that the spermatozoid has 

 the same weight, we may then say that it is able to carry 

 burdens four or five times heavier than itself." 



This germ cell from the male looking for the female 

 cell certainly shows activity and a will power. After 

 considering the actions of the male cell, Mr. Binet also 

 makes the following remarks : "Another remarkable cir- 

 cumstance is that the copulation of the two sexual ele- 

 ments is not without analogy to the copulation of the two 

 animals from which they originated. The spermatozoid 

 and the ovule to some extent repeat on a small scale 

 what the two individuals perform in their larger sphere. 

 Thus it is the spermatozoid that in its capacity of male 

 element goes in quest of the female. It possesses, in view 

 of the journeys it has to make, organs of locomotion that 

 are lacking in the female and are useless to it. 



"In fine, the spermatic element, in directing itself to- 

 ward the ovule to be fecundated, is animated by the same 

 sexual instinct that directs the parent organism towards 

 its female." 



This is only what we should necessarily expect when 

 we consider the matter. The intelligence that guides the 

 actions of man or animal in reference to their mating in- 

 stinct is and must be the same as that of the germ cell. 

 The actions of animals called the mating instinct are orig- 

 inated and instigated by these very germ cells ; that fact 

 is shown conclusively by the removal of the organ con- 

 taining the cells. 



It is now admitted, I believe, that habits are based on 

 the power of memory in the cell or organs performing the 



