RACING, OR TURF HORSEf?, 2i^ 



carried down by the contractile power of the fallopian tubes from the 

 ovary to the uterus, and hence it does not require automatic particles 

 like the semen. 



The embryo, or young animal, is the result of the contact of the 

 $emen with the ovum, immediately after which the sperm-cell of the 

 former is absorbed into the germ-cell of the latter. Upon this a ten- 

 dency to increase or "grow" is estabhshed, and supported at first, by 

 the nutriment contained in the yolk of the ovum, until the embryo has 

 attached itself to the walls of the uterus, from which it afterwards ab- 

 sorbs its nourishment by the intervention of the placenta. 



As the male and female each furnish their quota to the formation of 

 the embryo, it is reasonable to expect that each shall be represented in 

 it, which is found to be the case in nature ; but as the food of the embryo 

 entirely depends upon the mother, it may be expected that the health of 

 the offspring and its constitutional powers will be more in accordance 

 with her state than with that of the father ; yet since the sire furnishes 

 one-half of the original germ, it is not surprising that in externals and 

 general character there is retained a/ac-simile, to a certain extent of him. 



The ovum of mammalia differs from that of birds chiefly in the greater 

 size of the yolk of the latter, because in them this body is intended to 

 support the growth of the embryo from the time of the full formation 

 of the egg until the period of hatching. On the other hand, in mam- 

 malia the placenta conveys nourishment from the internal surface of the 

 uterus to the embryo during the whole time which elapses between the 

 'Bntrance of the ovum into the uterus and its birth. This period embraces 

 nearly the whole of the interval between conception and birth, and is 

 •called utero-gestation. 



In all the mammalia there is a periodical ** heat," marked by certain 

 discharges in the female, and sometimes by other remarkable symptoms 

 in the male. In the former it is accompanied in all healthy subjects by 

 the descent of an ovum or ova into the uterus ; and in both there is a 

 strong desire for sexual intercourse, which never takes place at other 

 times in them. 



The semen retains its fructifying power for some days, if it be con- 

 tained within the walls of the uterus or vagina, but soon ceases to be 

 fruitful if kept in any other vessel. Hence, although the latter part of 

 the time of heat is the best for the union of the sexes, because tjien 

 the ovum is ready for the contact with the semen, yet if the semen 

 reaches the uterus first, it will still cause a fruitful impregnation, because 

 it remains there uninjured until the descent of the ovum. 



The influence of the male upon the embryo is partly dependent upon 

 the fact that he furnishes a portion of its substance in the shape of th« 



