WHAT WE MIGHT EXPECT. 173 



sexual over asexual generation, in the arrangements of 

 nature for continuing her various species, inasmuch as 

 two heads are better than one, and a locus pcenitentice is 

 thus given to the embryo — an opportunity of correct- / 

 ing the experience of one parent by that of the other v > 

 And this is what the more intelligent embryos may be 

 supposed to do ; for there would seem little reason to 

 doubt that there are clever embryos and stupid embryos, 

 with better or worse memories, as the case may be, of 

 how they dealt with their protoplasm before, and better 

 or worse able to see how they can do better now; 

 and that embryos differ as widely in intellectual and 

 moral capacity, and in a general sense of the fitness 

 of things, and of what will look well into the bargain, 

 as those larger embryos — to wit, children — do. Indeed 

 it would seem probable that all our mental powers 

 must go through a quasi-embryological condition, much 

 as the power of keeping, and wisely spending, money 

 must do so, and that all the qualities of human 

 thought and character are to be found in the embryo. 



Those who have observed at what an early age differ- 

 ences of intellect and temper show themselves in the 

 young, for example, of cats and dogs, will find it 

 difficult to doubt that from the very moment of im- 

 pregnation, and onward, there has been a corresponding 

 difference in the embryo — and that of six unborn 

 puppies, one, we will say, has been throughout the 

 whole process of development more sensible and better 

 looking — a nicer embryo, in fact — than the others. 



IV. We should expect to find that all species, whether 

 of plants or animals, are occasionally benefited by a cross; 



