this Procefs is found confonant to many particular 
Experiments, fomc of which feem to me to render 
the Syftem i neon tellable. 
§ 14. Modern Naturalifls have unanimoufly 
agreed to lay down, for a certain Truth, that every 
Plant proceeds from its fpecific Seed, every Ani- 
mal from an Egg, or fomething analogous, pre- 
exiftent in a Parent of the fame kind. If it is ever 
of Ufe to feparatc difagreeing Ideas, and previoufly 
to explain equivocal Words, it is particularly requi- 
fite in this Cafe to determine what we mean by 
Seeds and Eggs. Seeds and Eggs, in the common 
Acceptation of thofe Terms, are certain mix'd Bodies, 
of feveral Dimenftons, that immediately furnifh 
thefe Productions. In this Senfe they are underftood 
to contain not only the pre-exiftent Germ, but the 
Nidus alfo, if I may fo term it, fitted for its Re- 
ception, and a due Supply of alimentary Principles 
to be aflimilated in proper Circumftances. They 
are therefore thus far heterogeneous Bodies, that 
coalefce in a known Time ; and their Principles are 
fo far from being originally united at the Creation, 
that they fenfibly come together from very diftant 
Places in all hermaphrodite Plants, and from 
different Individuals in all thole Species, where 
the Male and Female are diflind. Now I can- 
not perfuade myfelf, but that either I have not 
under flood what has been written on this Subjed, 
or that Authors have not TufHciently refledled upon 
this, when they affert, that, becaufe the ^Plantula is 
found in the Seed, an Oak, for inflance, in an 
Acorn, that therefore this diminutive Tree bears 
likewife its Acorns, and thus on through a long 
Series, 
