GENERATION OF ANIMALS, I. xviii. 



within the semen, how do they live ? If on the other 

 hand they are connected with each other, then surely 

 they would be a tiny animal. x\nd what about the 

 generative organs ? " because that which comes from 

 the male will be different from that which comes 

 from the female.^ 



Further, if the semen is drawn from all the parts 

 of both parents alike, we shall have two animals 

 formed, for the semen will contain all the parts of 

 each of them. If this sort of view is to be adopted, 

 the statement most closely in accord with it ap- 

 pears to be that of Empedocles [at any rate up to 

 a point ; if we take any other view, he appears 

 wrong]. Empedocles says that in the male and 

 in the female there is as it might be a tally — a 

 half of something — and that the whole is not drawn 

 from either of the parents. " But " (I quote his 

 words) 



torn asuiider stands 

 The substance ' of the limbs ; part is in man's . . .** 



Otherwise the question arises, why is it that female 

 animals do not generate out of themselves, if so be 

 that the semen is drawn from the whole body and a 

 receptacle for it is at hand } No ; so far as we can 

 see, either the semen is not drawn from the whole 

 body, or if it is, it happens in the way described by 

 Empedocles — the two parents do not both supply the 

 same portions, and that is why they need intercourse 

 with each other. But even Empedocles' explana- 

 tion is impossible. The parts cannot remain sound 

 and living if " torn asunder " from each other when 

 small, any more than they can when they are fully 

 grown. Empedocles, however, implies that they 



59 



