AND THE LOWER ANIMALS. 281 



say that the organic world has had a sort of double 

 creation; that there are two worlds — male and female. 

 Very close relations of co-existence may be found 

 between the two; but they may invariably be dis- 

 tinguished, and it is truly remarkable, that their 

 separation is an indication of high organization. 

 These two worlds appear indistinguishable only among 

 the very lowest members of both kingdoms. Her- 

 maphrodites are only found in the inferior groups 

 of the four sub -kingdoms. This character is not pre- 

 sented by any of the leading classes of these great 

 divisions; and with the exception of certain fishes, 

 not a single vertebrate is hermaphroditic* Thus 

 the union of the two sexes in one individual, so 

 far from being a sign of superiority, is one of true 

 degradation, and indicates in some measure a mon- 

 strosity. 



Metamorphosis attains its greatest manifestation in 

 geneagenesis. The latter, which originates in a simple 

 process of growth, evidently commences by trans- 

 formation; but among the Medusee and intestinal 

 worms it is still further complicated by metamorphosis 

 proper, and thus comprises the general phenomenon 

 in all its phases. 



From that circumstance alone we may conclude 

 that it is accomplished by the processes we have 

 already described. The proofs of this conclusion 

 are neither difficult of production nor will it take us 



# M. Dufosse, a physician of Marseilles, called attention to facts 

 which had been well nigh forgotten, and demonstrated that in the 

 various species of the genus Serranus, a very well-marked herma- 

 phroditism is found. This is at present the only exception to the 

 rule amongst vertebrate animals. 



