290 THE HISTOEY OF ANIMALS. [B. X. 



will become moist, and they will be obliged to bestow the 

 same attention upon themselves as if they had had sexual 

 intercourse. So that it is evident that there must be an 

 ^mission of semen from both if it is to be productive. 



3. But the uterus does not emit its semen into itself, but 

 on the outside, into the place where that of the male also is 

 received, and then draws it into itself. For some females 

 produce spontaneously, as the bird produces barren eggs, 

 and other females do not so, as the horses and sheep ; 

 either because the bird projects her semen into the uterus, 

 and the place upon which that of the male is emitted is not 

 external ; for which reason, if he does not copulate properly 

 with the female, it is poured out upon the ground. But 

 in quadrupeds there is another place for the reception of 

 the semen, both of the male and female, which in other 

 animals it is combined with other fluids of the body, 

 and is not collected in the uterus, because it does not 

 enter it. But in birds, the uterus receives and matures 

 the seminal fluid, and forms a body similar in other respects 

 though not a living creature. It is necessary, therefore, 

 the living creature should be derived from both sexes. 



CHAPTER VII. 



WE must enquire whether women speak the truth, when 

 they say that after a lascivious dream they find themselves 

 dry ; for it is plain that the uterus draws upwards. And 

 if so, why do not females become pregnant spontaneously, 

 since the male seminal fluid is drawn in, mixed with their 

 own ? And why do not she goats draw that part of it 

 which extends outwards ? for this affection takes place 

 in some that have been pregnant many years ; for they pro- 

 duce what is called myle (an amorphous mass of flesh), a 

 circumstance which has also happened to a certain woman; 

 for having had sexual intercourse, and to all appearance 

 conceived, the size of the uterus increased, and everything 

 at first went on regularly : but when the time of partu- 

 rition arrived, she produced nothing, nor did the enlarge- 

 ment become any smaller : but after three or four years, a 

 dysentery occurred, which placed her life in danger, when 

 she produced a large mass of flesh, which they call myle. 

 The affection continues in some to old age, even to the 'day 

 of their death. 



