94 Specificity in Fertilization 



served in the case of fish. But it is also the case in 

 invertebrates. Thus the writer has observed that the 

 sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus at the shore 

 of Pacific Grove all spawn simultaneously. The 

 examination extended over several miles of shore. 

 At such spawning seasons the sea water becomes a 

 suspension of sperm. 



The second fact guaranteeing the fertilization of the 

 eggs is the overwhelming excess of spermatozoa over 

 eggs. The enormous waste in animated nature is in 

 agreement with the idea of a lack of purpose; since 

 in this case the laws of chance must play a great 

 rdle; and the origin of durable organisms by laws of 

 chance is only comprehensible on the basis of an 

 enormous wastefulness, for which evidence is not 

 lacking. 



