62 OFTHEGENERATION 



conclude with a few obfervations. Moft ani- 

 mals difcover no inclination for the fexes till 

 their growth be nearly finifhed: Thole which 

 have but one feafon in the year, have no femi- 

 nal fluid, except at that time. Mr Needham * 

 not only faw this liquor forming in the milt of 

 the Calmar^ but likewife the fpermatic animals, 

 and the milt itfelf, which have no exiftence till 

 the month of Odober, when this fifh fpawns on 

 the coafts of Portugal, where Needham made 

 the obfervation. After the fpawning time is 

 over, the feminal liquor, the fpermatic animals, 

 and the milt, dry up and total y dilappear ; till 

 the fame fealbn returns next year, when the 

 fuperfluous nutritive particles renew the milt as 

 formerly. 1 he hiftory of the deer will furnifh 

 us with an opportunity of remarking the various 

 efFeds of rutting, the moft confpicuous of which 

 is the extenuation of the animal; and, in thofe 

 fpecies of animals whofe rutting and Spawning 

 happens but once in a year, the extenuation of 

 their bodies is proportionally great. 



As women are fmaller and weaker than men, 

 as their conftitutions are more delicate, and, as 

 they take lefs food, it is natural to think that 

 their fuperfluous organic particles fhould alfo 

 be lefs abundant : Of courfe, their feminal fluid 

 will be weaker and fmaller in quantity than that 

 of men; and, fince the fluid of females contains 

 fewer organic particles, muft not a greater num- 

 ber 

 * See Needh. new microfcopical difcoverles, London 1745. 



