187 



in the r-^ : the matrix, or ovaries, arc the places where 

 it is performed. 



Being enclosed in the seminal vessels^ the fecundating 

 li<]iior appears in them, through a microscope, like a 

 mass of small regular bodies, of different lengths, which 

 seem to separaie themselves hito a great number of 

 extremely minute grains, moving different ways. Some- 

 limes these corpuscles resemble cases \vith springs, 

 whichj \vhen moistened, open themselves and dart 

 forth a limpid matter, abounding with a great number 

 of very small grains. ^t 



The matrix consists of three principal parts,, or de- 

 pendencies; the Jundus, or bottom, the fallopian tubes, 

 and the ovaries. The Jundus contains one or more 

 cavities, in which the embryos receive nourishment and 

 expand themselves : it has an orifice in the fore part. 

 The iallopian tubes are a kind of long funnels, whose 

 aperture is directed towards the ovaries, where it- 

 ends. The ovaries are a mass of vesicles that are 

 real eggs. 



When the most subtle part of the seminal liquor has 

 arrived through the iallopian tubes to the ovaries,, 

 it there fecundates one or mote eggs. These after- 

 wards descend by these tubes into ihe matrix, wh re 

 they are fixed and unfold themselves. In oviparous fe- 

 males the eggs are contained in a kind of bowel, where- 

 in they receive their growth ;. the seminal liquor makes- 

 them fruitful. 



Most animals consist of two sorts of individuals, male 

 *\\1\ female ; but there are other species, of which every 

 individual is an heiwaphrodile., which unites the two, 

 although it cannot fecundate itself. In some species, 

 where a distinction of sexes is observed, there is no 

 coupling, properly so called : the male oni> communi- 

 cates his liquor to the eggs which the female has depo- 

 sited. Finally, some species are propagated without 

 any apparent or external fecundation, 



