Why should not every human be at liberty to live out his life in the way Nature ordains for him so far as he does not thereby transgress against any one else?[1]
- ↑
Bisexuality occurs also in animals and birds, but far less frequently than among humans. Perhaps this difference is due to the fact that the human male and female differ much less in respect to secondary sexual determinants than do most birds and animals. Several times in my life I have come across a newspaper item such as the following. I inquired of a poulterer, who informed me that he has had numerous hens that crowed and possessed secondary male determinants.
CROWS AND LAYS EGG. IS IT COCK OR HEN?
Copyright by Press Publishing Co. (NEW YORK WORLD), 1921
(Special cable despatch to the WORLD)LONDON, Dec. 9.—A Buff Orpington cock at a poultry show in the agricultural hall at Islington has laid an egg. This bird began its career with all the attributes of a sure-enough hen. It laid eggs and cackled over them in time-honored fashion. Its head, plumage, and habits were all hen-like.
As it grew, its conformation underwent a subtle change. It began to grow a cock's comb, sprouted a cock's tail, developed spurs and crowed on appropriate occasions—but continued to lay eggs. When its owner exhibited it as a "cock-hen" and claimed despite its male affiliation, that it produced eggs, all the poultry fanciers derisively nicknamed it "Bluff Orpington."
One doubter offered to pay one hundred pounds if the bird laid an egg. It was watched day and night for the coming of the marvel, and yesterday duly presented its watchers with an excellent egg. .... Physiologists are dumbfounded
