SECT. XXXIX. 5. G E N T E R A T I O N. 581 



reception. Thefe nutritive particles mufi be fup- 

 pofed to differ in fome refpc&s, when thus prepared 

 by different animals. They may differ in f:ze, co- 

 lour, and form ; and yet may he fufficiently con- 

 genial to the living filament, to which they arc ap- 

 plied, as to excite its activity by their flimulus, and 

 its animal appetency to receive them, and U) com- 

 bine them with it fell' into organization. 



By this firft nutriment thus prepared for the cm- 

 5 bryon is not meant the liquor amnii, which is af- 

 terwards produced, nor the larger exterior parts of 

 the white of the egg ; but the fluid prepared, I 

 Juppofe, in the ovary of viviparous animals, and 

 that which immediately furrounds the cicatricula of 

 an impregnated egg, and is vifible to the eye in a 

 boiled one. 



Now thefe ultimate particles of animal matter pre- 

 pared by the glands of the mother may be fuppofed 

 to refemble the fimilar uliimate particles, which 

 were prepared for her own nourifhment ; tjiat is, to 

 the ultimate particles of which her own organiza- 

 tion confifts. And that hence when thefe become 

 combined with a new embryon, which in its early 

 flate is not furnifhed with ftomach, or glands, to 

 alter them ; that ncw r embryon will bear fome rc- 

 femblance to the mother. 



This feems to be the origin of the compound 

 forms of mules, which evidently panake of both 

 parents, but principally of the male parent. In 

 this production of chimeras the anticms fecin lo 

 have indulged their fancies, whence the fphinxcs, 

 griffins, dragons, centaurs, and minotaurs, which 

 are vanifhed from modern credulity. 



It would fcem, that in thefe unnatural conjucc- 

 tions, when the nutriment depofitcd by the female 

 was fo ill adapted to Simulate the living filament 

 derived from the male into a6lion, and to be re- 

 ceived, or embraced by it, and combined wiih it 



into 



