66 THE PSYCHIC LIFE 



reproduction, preceded by copulation, is found among 

 Infusoria. 



Before entering upon a description of the changes 

 that take place in the nucleus and nucleole of Infuso- 

 ria in coition, we shall briefly sketch the course of 

 psychical phenomena through which the ciliated Infu- 

 soria pass when making ready for copulation. 



We shall follow in the footsteps of M. Balbiani, 

 freely using his descriptions, the exactitude of which 

 has since been confirmed by Gruber. 



To appreciate fully the significance of the facts to 

 be adduced herewith, we must recall to mind that 

 throughout the entire animal kingdom the act of sex- 

 ual coition is invariably preceded by an introductory 

 manifestation of psychical activity, which may last for 

 quite an extended length of time. 



The female, when pursued by the male, seems to 

 be animated by two conflicting desires — that of yield- 

 ing to the male and that of repelling his approaches. 

 This show of unwillingness, which is but temporary 

 and more seeming than real, has the effect of inciting 

 the male to attempt an exhibition of powers calculated 

 to captivate the female. According to M. Espinas, 

 who has thoroughly studied this subject, there are five 

 classes of phenomena which assist in preparing the 

 way for sexual union: firstly, provocative contact, the 

 lowest of all these phenomena — that is, the one which 

 most approximates to the physiological order; sec- 

 ondly, odor; thirdly, color and form; fourthly, noise 

 and sound; fifthly, play, or every variety of move- 

 ment. It appears to us that almost all manifestations 

 of love in human beings themselves could be classi- 

 fied into these five categories. 



Among the simplest forms of life we meet with in- 



