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The legitimate office of this organ is to produce love for one’s own offspring. It produces, however, in the breast of its possessor an affection for children indiscriminately; for the feeble and helpless; for pets—as dogs, horses, cats, &c., and even for inanimate objects. It has an influence in producing general kindliness of disposition. A peculiarity of its character consists in its inspiring its possessor to love with the fondest affection the child that is the most helpless, and even the one that has caused the greatest solicitude and brought down on its parent the deepest disgrace.

Predominant.—An individual in whom this organ predominates has a constant hankering for the society of children. If without them himself, he views the deprivation as a great misfortune, and if his circumstances are favourable, will be likely to adopt one, for the purpose of exhausting the energy of this feeling upon it. He will be likewise much attached to pets, as horses and dogs.

Large.—Those who possess this organ large, betray it in every look and motion when in company with children. They take the greatest delight in their society, and enter into their little troubles and enjoyments with the greatest zeal. They readily enlist their confidence, and can easily control them. If deprived of their society, they will exhaust their attachment upon some pet animal which they will frequently fondle. When Combativeness, Destructiveness and Philoprogenitiveness are large, an individual will punish children severely when they annoy him, notwithstanding his great affection for them. If Self-esteem and Combativeness are small, he will be liable to humour his children and allow them improper indulgences. With Combativeness and Destructiveness large, he will be apt to be capricious in his feelings towards children, at one time humoring them, and at another petulant and cross.

Moderate.—With Philoprogenitiveness moderate, a person will be attached to his own children to a good degree, and may take some interest in others after they begin to lose their infantile character. This feeling, however, will not be durable. He will readily tire of children when they annoy him. The death of a child will be a poignant affliction to him, but it will be soon forgotten. If Destructiveness and Self-esteem are large, he will be liable to punish them with severity for trivial offences.

Small.—With this organ small, a person will be exceedingly annoyed by children. If a parent, he will consign the care of them to menials. In all his intercourse with company, he will betray a marked indifference to their society. If ever induced to amuse them, his awkwardness will betray itself to the most casual observer. If Benevolence is large, he will take all needful care of them; but if Secretiveness and Destructiveness are large, he will delight to torment and teaze them.