the Free Martin . 287 
Free martins are faid to be in Iheep W ; but from the 
accounts given of them, I fhoukl very much fuipect that 
thefe are hermaphrodites produced in the common way, 
and not like thefe of cattle. They are often imperfect 
males, feveral of which I have feen. They are men- 
tioned as both male and female, which is not reconcile- 
able to the account given of the free martin. 
I believe it has never been even fuppofed what this 
animal is, with all thofe peculiarities. 
From the Angularity of the animal, and the account 
of its production, I was almoft ready to fuppofe the ac- 
count a vulgar error; yet from, the univerfality of its 
teftimony it appeared to have fome foundation;, and 
therefore I made all the inquiry I could for an opportu- 
nity of feeing one, and alfo to examine it. Since which 
time I have accordingly had an opportunity of feeing 
three; the firft of which was one belonging to john. 
arbuthnot, efq. of Mitcham, which was calved in his 
own farm. He was fo obliging as to give me an opportu- 
nity of fatisfying myfelf. He allowed me, firft, to have a 
drawing made of the animal while alive, which was exe- 
w fertile cows, fhould be rejected, or fent away..? He liktwife quotes varro* 
De re Rujlica, lib. ii. cap. 5. The cow which is barren, is called taura f 
From which we may reafonably conjecture, that the Romans had not the 
idea of the circumftances of their production* 
if) issue’s Hufhandry, p. 156. 
cut eel. 
