ARISTOTLE 



• aveXiTTOiJLevrjs eiri rrjv dpx^v odev rjXdev. eari yap 



■ rj' fxkv yeveaig e/c rov fir] ovrog ets to 6v, rj 8e 



(poopa e/c Tov ovro? TraAtv els to firj 6v. 



VI 25 Fiverat Se [xera tyjv apx^v, MOTrep iXexdf]> ^a 



evTos npoTepov twv cktos. ^aiVerat Se TrpoTepa 



ra {jieyedos e)(ovTa tcov iXaTTovcov, ovS^ eVta yiy- 



vofxeva rrpoTepov. TrpcJjTov he to. avco SLapdpovTai 



TOV Sta^co/jiaTOS , Kal Sta^epet fieyedet,- to Se koltoj 



Kat eXaTTov /cat ahiopLOTOTepov . /cat tovto ylyve- 



30 rat ev Trdatv, ocroig to avio /cat to koltoj StcoptCTrat, 



TtXtjV €V TOiS ivTOjJiOLS' TOVTOJV 8' iv TOLS OKO)Xt)KO- 



TOKOvjjLevoLg €771 TO avo) rj av^Tjcn? yiveTai- to 

 yap avoj i^ vTrapxrjs eXaTTOv. dSiopLaTOV Se /cat 

 TO dvoj /cat TO /carco rot? /LtaAa/ctoi? tcSv TTopev- 

 TiKcov fjiovois. TO Se XexOev au/x^atVet /cat eTTt roiv 

 35 <f)VTa)v, TO TTpoTepeZv ttj yeveaec to dvco kvtos tov 

 KaTOidev ras" yap pit,as rrpoTepov d<j>tdaL to. airip- 



fiaTa Tcbv TTTOpdiOV. 



Atopt^erat Se to. jxepr] tcov ^cpcjv nvevpiaTi, ov 

 jxevTOL ovTe to) Trjs yevvcoarjs ovtg to> avTov, 



" See 740 a 12 ff. 



* Aristotle's observations are quite correct. Cf. the 

 theories of C. M. Child on axial gradients, physiological 

 dominance {cf. Aristotle's own use of /cvpio?, 742 a 84 below), 

 etc., conveniently discussed by J. Huxley and G. R. de Beer 

 in ElementH of Experimental Embryology. See also 742 b 14. 



■^ According to Aristotle {LA. 705 a 29 ff.), the distinction 

 between the upper and lower portions of animals and plants 

 is determined by function, and not by position relative to the 

 earth and the sky. The " upper " portion is that from which 

 is received the distribution of nourishment and material for 

 growth : and the extremity towards which the nourishment 

 arid growth penetrate is the " lower " extremity. Thus, as 



208 



