Fish Life. 45 



These characteristics of the reproductive ele- 

 ments are expressed through the whole individual 

 as well, — the female being, as a rule, passive; the 

 male, active. 



The passive female cell, large and well nour- 

 ished, lies quiet ; the active male cell, irresis- 

 tibly allured by its presence, moves eagerly to 

 join it. 



When dropped into the water the egg-cell of the 

 fish, alive, magnetic, but motionless, awaits the com- 

 ing of its preserver. He will come ; she need make 

 no effort to go to him. 



The sperm-cell, when dropped into the water 

 near the egg-cell, exhibits no such calmness. It 

 shows great unrest, and eagerly seeks the egg-cell, 

 which it strives to penetrate. 



As there are many more sperm-cells than egg- 

 cells, and as only one sperm-cell, it would seem, 

 can unite with each egg-cell, it follows that but few 

 of the sperm-cells are able to continue life. 



The egg-cell has but one point of ingress, and 

 this a sperm-cell finally discovers. 



Under the microscope these active forms have 

 been seen eagerly moving around and around the 

 egg until one, more fortunate than the rest, finds 

 admission and dissolves into the substance of the 

 egg, — not to be finally lost, however, for, as we 

 know, this inexplicable union results in the growth 

 of a new creature like neither parent, and yet like 

 both, each cell having given to the new life certain 



