only divided by it 5 tho’ as both Opinions were equally 
plaufible, the latter generally prevail'd by its Novelty, 
The vaft and unbounded Profpett it open'd to the 
Imagination, in a View of fuch a prodigious Series 
from the firft Parent to the laft, of original Linea- 
ments, flruck the Mind with an agreeable Surprize, 
The Folly of equivocal Generation, particularly as 
it had been hated by the Antients, the falfe Grounds 
they had proceeded upon to eftablifh it, various Ex- 
periments that feem’d to prove every Animal, every 
Plant, defeended from Individuals of the fame Spe- 
cies 5 but, above all, the Facility of claffing thefe 
fpermatic Animals, the reducing them by Analogy 
to Seed and Eggs, and the known Tranfition of moft 
Infe&s from one State to another, feem'd all fuf- 
ficient to remove the Veil Nature had drawn, and 
furnifh a Clue of a competent Length to conduct 
us into its mod hidden RecefTes. 
(j - 7. Thus this new Syfiem of Generation foon be- 
came a favourite Opinion of the laft Age, as it is in- 
deed ftill of this for the moft part 5 and many ingenious 
Methods were imagined ofanfwering the Difficulties 
from Obfervation that feem’d to oppofe it. The 
more antient Hypothefis of female Eggs was at laft; 
blended with it, and both were work’d up into one 
Syftem : Their real Exiftence was determined,, with 
their Form, Colour, Size, Situation, and the Me- 
chanifm of their Conveyance to the Womb; and 
imaginary Valves were appointed in each Egg ad- 
mitting one, exclufive of every other fpermatic 
Animal, Happy the firft of thefe minute Beings 
that could take Pofleffion of this little Cell, and 
{hut the Door againft contending Millions ! Hi- 
therto 
