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XX. Account of the Free Martin. 
By Mr. John Hunter, F. R. S. 
Read February 25, 1779. 
__ ENEPvATION, when produced from a feed, has 
fj two caufes which concur towards its perfedtion ; 
the one which forms the feed, the other which gives 
it the principle of action (a) . 
The caufe which forms the feed is called the female, 
the other caufe is called the male ; but thofe two caufes 
in general make only a part of a w r hole animal, or are 
(a ) It may be neceffary for fame of my readers to have explained to them 
what I mean by a feed. I do fuppofe, that the word feed was firffc applied to 
grain, or that which is always called feed in the vegetable ; which feed is the part 
of that clafs of vegetables in which the matter of the young vegetable exifls, or is 
formed. The principle of arrangement fitting the parts for action in this daft of 
feed being at firft not known, a falfe analogy between the vegetable and animal 
was eftablifhed, viz, the fecretion of the tejles (the only known principle in the 
animal) was called the feed: but from the knowledge of the diftind fexesin the 
vegetable it is well known, that the feed is the female production in them, and 
that the principle of arrangement for adtion is from the male. The fame ope- 
ration and principles take place in many orders of animals, via, the female pro- 
duces a feed, in which is the matter fitted for the firft arrangement of the organs- 
of the animal, and which receives the principle of arrangement fitting them 
for aftion from the male. 
rather 
