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iquor. And there is no circumstance, by which the 

 fecundated egg ca,n be known from the unfecundated, 

 It appears that tadpoles exist before fecundation. For 

 the un fecundated eggs do not differ in the least from 

 those that are fecundated. But these are only tadpoles 

 coiled up. Such, therefore, are the unfecundated tad- 

 poles : they exist before fecundation ; only they can. 

 not unfold themselves without the liquid of the male. 

 Frogs then should not be placed among oviparous 

 animals, but among viviparous : if they do not rather 

 constitute a class between both. Thus nature seems 

 to delight in diversifying the modes of animal genera, 

 lion. 



This may be the case with regard to one, or perhaps 

 a few species of animals. But, in general, where to 

 place the pre-existent animal or embryo, in the ani- 

 malcula or the egg, is still the question. A division of 

 vital, essential, and original stamina, is impossible. 

 Yet innumerable instances in monsters, mules, and 

 many natural subjects, concur to prove,that the young 

 partakes of the nature and qualities of both the pa. 

 rents, even to their defects and diseases, which are 

 often hereditary. How then can we suppose unal. 

 terable stamina ? Can the visible species of any pro. 

 duction be determined by them, if every sensible 

 quality may be influenced indiscriminately by either 

 parent ? 



If they are placed in the amioalcula or the egg, 

 how are they transmitted ? If in the animalcula, 

 why is the process attended with so vast an ex pence, 

 so great a waste of millions of entities, each contain- 

 ing a series of the most perfect 3 and most wonderful 

 productions, when one only of those millions is to 

 take place ? And how are these animals genera- 

 ted ? If in the common way, not only the process 

 will be boundless, (these in their seed will have 

 others, and so on in an endless series ;) but they can- 

 not then be unalterable, because they are capable of 

 being generated. Further, if they float in th? air, 



