Animals  having  both  sexes,  do  not  necessarily  show
sexual  dimorphism.  But  neither  this  exact  likeness  of
individuals,  nor  the  double  function  with  which  they  are
charged,  contradicts  the  general  law  which  seems  to  wish
that  an  individual  should  be  due  to  elements  coming  from
two  different  individuals.  Autofecundation  is  exceptional,
is  very  rare.  Whether  or  no  the  individual  possess  the
two  genital  glands,  or  one  of  them  only,  it  needs  a  male,
or  an  individual  acting  as  male,  and  a  female  or  an  indi-
vidual acting  as  female,  to  perpetuate  life.  Alternative
hermaphrodism  confirms  these  propositions,  be  it  that
the  same  gland  transforms  itself  totally,  turn  by  turn,
into  male  principle,  then  into  female  principle;  be  it
divided  between  a  male  half  and  a  female  half,  these  two
halves  ripen  simultaneously  or  successively.  When  there
is  total  or  partial  alternation,  the  male  principle  is  ready
no


PHILOSOPHY  OF  LOVE

first,  and  waits:  thus  the  aggressivity  of  the  male,  and
the  passivity  of  the  female  are  visible  in  the  most  ob-
scure manifestations  of  sexual  life:  the  fundamental
psychology  of  an  ascide  does  not  differ  from  that  of
an  insect,  or  from  that  of  a  mammal.
in


THE  NATURAL


CHAPTER  XIII

THE  MECHANISM  OF  LOVE

V.  Artificial  fecundation. — Disjunction  of  the  secreting
apparatus  from  the  copulating  apparatus. — Spiders. —
Discovery  of  their  copulative  method. — Brutality  of
the  female. — Habits  of  the  epeire. — The  argyronete. —
— The  tarantula. — Exceptions:  the  reapers. — Dragon-
flies  (libellule). — Dragon-flies  (demoiselle)  virgins  and
"jouvencelle." — Picture  of  their  love  affairs.
