78 THE PSYCHIC LIFE 



fecundative elements. The early investigators that 

 concerned themselves with the study of animalcula, 

 naturally attributed to them spontaneous and volun- 

 tary movement. Since the spermatozoid has been re- 

 garded as nothing else than an histological element, 

 endosmotic, hygroscopic and like actions have been 

 accepted in explanation. M. Balbiani, from whom we 

 have taken the foregoing details, declares that expla- 

 nations of this character are none at all; for, upon ul- 

 timate aiialysis, all kinds of motion may be reduced 

 to a chemical or physical action — sarcodic or ciliary 

 movement just as much as voluntary movement. " For 

 my part," our scientist adds, "I believe that the sper- 

 matozoids do not move about blindly but that they 

 act in obedience to a kind of internal impulsion, to a 

 sort of volition which directs them towards a definite 

 object."* The experiments of M. Balbiani have shown 

 that with weak solutions of ether and chloroform the 

 movements of the spermatozoids may be moderated 

 and made to cease so slowly that the latter are yet able 

 to fecundate the ovules. 



In fine, the spermatic element, in directing itself 

 toward the ovule to be fecundated, is animated by the 

 same sexual instinct that directs the parent organism 

 towards its female. 



In the higher animals, the movements of the 

 spermatozoid that is endeavoring to reach the fe- 

 male exhibit a peculiar character, which it is im- 

 portant to emphasize: these movements do not ap- 

 pear to be directly provoked by an exterior object, as 

 those of micro-organisms are; the spermatozoid en- 

 deavors to reach an ovule which is frequently situated 

 a great distance away; this is the case particularly 



* La G^n^ration des Vert^br^s, p. 159. 



