i2o REFLECTIONS ON 



garded as a part of the hen ; I reply, that 

 eggs, whether impregnated or not, are always 

 organized in the fame manner ; that impregna- 

 tion changesonly apart which is almoftinvifible; 

 that it grows, and acquires a uniform figure and 

 ftrudure, both externally and internally, inde- 

 pendent of impregnation; and, confequently, 

 it ought to be confidered as a feparate and di- 

 ftindl being. 



This will be ftill more apparent, if we attend 

 to the growth and formation of the eggs of 

 fifhes. When the female depofits them in the 

 "Water, they are properly but the rudiments of 

 eggs, which, being lately feparated from the 

 body of the animal, attrad and aifimilate thofe 

 particles that are fitted for their nourilhment; 

 and thus increafe in fize by mere abforption. 

 In the fame manner as the egg of the hen ac- 

 quires its white and membranes while floating 

 in the uterus, the eggs of fifhes acquire their 

 white and membranes in the water; and, 

 whether they are fecundated by the male's 

 fheddinghis milt upon them, or they remain un- 

 impregnated, they ftill arrive at full perfed;ion. 

 It is plain, therefore, that eggs in general ought 

 to be regarded as organized bodies, and as form- 

 ing a diftind: genus from animals and vegetables. 



The organized bodies found in the femen of 

 all animals, and which, like thofe in the milt of 

 the calmar, are natural machines, and not ani- 

 mals, form a fecond fpccies of the fame genus. 



They 



