登陆注册
15399900000049

第49章

We have now stated in which birds wind-eggs are found, and also what sort of birds lay many eggs or few, and for what reasons.And wind-eggs, as said before, come into being because while it is the material for generation that exists in the female of all animals, birds have no discharge of catamenia like viviparous sanguinea (for they occur in all these latter, more in some, less in others, and in some only enough in quantity just to mark the class).The same applies to fish as to birds, and so in them as in birds is found an embryonic formation without impregnation, but it is less obvious because their nature is colder.The secretion corresponding to the catamenia of vivipara is formed in birds at the appropriate season for the discharge of superfluous matter, and, because the region near the hypozoma is hot, it is perfected so far as size is concerned, but in birds and fishes alike it is imperfect for generation without the seminal fluid of the male; the cause of this has been previously given.Wind-eggs are not formed in the flying birds, for the same reason as prevents their laying many eggs; for the residual matter in birds of prey is small, and they need the male to give an impulse for the discharge of it.The wind-eggs are produced in greater numbers than the impregnated but smaller in size for one and the same reason; they are smaller in size because they are imperfect, and because they are smaller in size they are more in number.They are less pleasant for food because they are less concocted, for in all foods the concocted is more agreeable.It has been sufficiently observed, then, that neither birds' nor fishes' eggs are perfected for generation without the males.As for embryos being formed in fish also (though in a less degree) without the males, the fact has been observed especially in river fish, for some are seen to have eggs from the first, as has been written in the Enquiries concerning them.And generally speaking in the case of birds even the impregnated eggs are not wont for the most part to attain their full growth unless the hen be trodden continually.The reason of this is that just as with women intercourse with men draws down the secretion of the catamenia (for the uterus being heated attracts the moisture and the passages are opened), so this happens also with birds; the residual matter corresponding to the catamenia advances a little at a time, and is not discharged externally, because its amount is small and the uterus is high up by the hypozoma, but trickles together into the uterus itself.For as the embryo of the vivipara grows by means of the umbilical cord, so the egg grows through this matter flowing to it through the uterus.For when once the hens have been trodden, they all continue to have eggs almost without intermission, though very small ones.Hence some are wont to speak of wind-eggs as not coming into being independently but as mere relics from a previous impregnation.But this is a false view, for sufficient observations have been made of their arising without impregnation in chickens and goslings.Also the female partridges which are taken out to act as decoys, whether they have ever been impregnated or not, immediately on smelling the male and hearing his call, become filled with eggs in the latter case and lay them in the former.The reason why this happens is the same as in men and quadrupeds, for if their bodies chance to be in rut they emit semen at the mere sight of the female or at a slight touch.And such birds are of a lascivious and fertile nature, so that the impulse they need is but small when they are in this excited condition, and the secreting activity takes place quickly in them, wind-eggs forming in the unimpregnated and the eggs in those which have been impregnated growing and reaching perfection swiftly.

同类推荐
  • 啸旨

    啸旨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • A Mountain Woman

    A Mountain Woman

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 针灸节要

    针灸节要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 元剧西游记

    元剧西游记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 摄大乘论

    摄大乘论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 接触试验

    接触试验

    从出生开始,我的命运好似已经注定。穿越时间,穿过空间,冥冥之中我来到一片陌生的土地,再次与他相遇。我的血是令他们疯狂的毒药,这其中也包括他。我不确定,对于他,到底是我特别还是我的血更特别?他说:我是她,唯一的爱人,不论过去,现在,还是未来。
  • 地狱离天堂有多远

    地狱离天堂有多远

    此情可待成追忆,莫道只是当时已惘然。是错还是对,是地狱还是天堂?
  • 幻想世界之幻想之战

    幻想世界之幻想之战

    我爱幻想,一个个神秘的故事,一场场激烈的打斗,怵目惊心。我在幻想,我本不属于这个世界,但我通过幻想进入了我的空间,开始了一段神奇、惊险的生活。
  • 时空壁垒

    时空壁垒

    时流碰撞壁垒,时光无限量放慢,太空异族逾越时空入侵地球,跳脱于时光之外的幸存者开始为了地球,为了生存而战。
  • 叶尖上的童话

    叶尖上的童话

    这是一个脑洞大开,激情无限的幻想类故事,集穿越、灵异、科幻、玄幻于一身,很多都是做梦的时候梦到的场景。也不知道有没有人看,有看到觉得还过得去眼的宝贝,求收藏,求推荐!!么么哒!
  • 我的异界抽奖系统

    我的异界抽奖系统

    谁说主角必须得苦练才可登至顶峰?陈俊,一个孤儿,对着流星许愿倒被砸,却莫名穿越?还附带了一个抽奖系统!可抽各种位面的物品!从此陈俊走上无敌的道路,遇神杀神,遇魔斩魔!陈俊说:切!升级什么的、最无聊了!
  • 皇爵zero

    皇爵zero

    希望寄往梦想的天国愿做一个世界特立独行的王幻想强大突破围攻我们的世界应由我们自己主宰
  • 神奇宝贝之智光重逢

    神奇宝贝之智光重逢

    那个蓝色的身影,那一次次的击掌,都让已经成为大师的小智难忘......不支持智光者勿看
  • 终焉之日,或死或生

    终焉之日,或死或生

    末日来临,弱鸡的我当然是要去抱大腿啦!有大腿不抱是不是傻?!
  • 薄情帝少的赔价小妻

    薄情帝少的赔价小妻

    不就是不小心撞碎了他前女友送的手链吗,至于将她朝死里虐吗?好吧!与其这样屈辱地活着,不如将她的命赔给他的前女友,只希望他能够饶过她!然而,失忆的她,却被他欺骗说是他的女友,而他的前女友又说她不过是他的地下情人,她远远逃开……明白过来已经爱她入骨的他,发誓天涯海角,一定要将她重新追回!