OF NATURAL HISTORY. 239 



bold, may, perhaps, create an idea of competition and danger, and 

 excite the ferocity and courage of the animal. There feems to be 

 an inftindilve refpedl, if not dread, of the human kind implanted 

 in moft animals. If this be the cafe, the above fadl amounts to a 

 high compliment to the women; for they receive more favour from 

 the brute creation than the men. 



With regard to animals, in general, the intercourfe of fexes is 

 neceffary for the multiplication of the fpecies. But, as formerly re- 

 marked *, feveral of the lower tribes are enabled to multiply with- 

 out the intervention of fexes. In fome animals, both fexes are 

 combined in each individual. The earth-worm, fnails, and feveral 

 fhell-fifhes, are hermaphrodites ; and yet the conjundion of two is 

 neceflary for their multiplication. Mr Adanfon, in his Account of 

 Senegal, mentions fome fhell-animals which, in order to produce, 

 require the union of three individuals. In the polypus, no appear- 

 ance of fexual diftindion has hitherto been difcovered. Nature, 

 however, has not denied them the power of multiplication, which is 

 efFeded in a very fingular manner f. Caterpillars of every deno- 

 mination are totally deflitute of fexes, and are incapable, while they 

 remain in that ftate, of multiplying their fpecies. But, after their 

 transformation into flies, the diflindion of fexes is apparent, and 

 their fertility is exceedingly great. 



Among the larger animals, the difference of fize and figure be- 

 tween males and females is not remarkable. The moft ftriking di- 

 ftindions arife from the horns, the tufks, the creft, &c. which adorn 

 the head of the male, and are often wanting in the female. But, 

 among the infed tribes, fome males differ fo greatly from- the fe- 

 maUs, that they have the appearance of belonging to a feparate ge- 

 nus. 



* See chap. i. pag. 30. &c. f Ibid. 



