Note 472 — OF HERMAPHRODITES.

In the Memoirs of the French Academy, there is an account of hermaphrodite animals, that not only have both sexes, but do the office of both at the same time; such are earth-worms; round-tailed worms found in the intestines of men and horses; land snails, and those of fresh waters; and all the species of leeches. And as all these are reptiles, and without bones, M. Poupart concludes it probable, that all other insects which have these two characters, are also hermaphrodites. Monstrous productions, having a mixture of the male and female organs, and which have been termed hermaphrodites, (although the ovaria and testes are always too imperfect to perform their functions) appear to arise most frequently in neat cattle, and are known by the name of Free Martins. The reader will find much curious information upon this subject in a paper by Mr. John Hunter, in the 69th vol. of the Philosophical Transactions. Pliny tells us that the chariot of Nero was drawn by four hermaphrodite horses.