268 Mn. Townson’s Oljettions againft the 
'The many beautiful analogies exifting between the two organized: 
kingdoms of nature, their fimilar origin from egg or feed, their fub- 
fequent developement, and nourifhment by intus-fufception ; the 
power of continuing their fpecies, the limited time of their 
exiftence, and, when not carried off by difeafe and premature 
death, poffefling in themfelves the caufe of their own deftruc- 
tion—have been fo favourable to the fuppofition of the exift- 
ence of a complete chain of beings, that there appeared to the fa- 
vourers of this opinion nothing to be wanting to connect them, 
but the loco- motive faculty; for irritability, from phenomena in a 
few vegetables, had been granted them by fome. This loco-motive 
faculty, which is confidered as a confequence of volition, which is 
an attribute of mind, they fay * is manifefted in the direction of 
the roots towards the foil which affords them their moft proper 
nouriíhment, and in the direction of the tender fhoots and leaves 
towards the light, which is likewife neccflary to their well-being, 
Thefe facts are admitted, but not the confequences drawn from. 
them. 
Tt mutt indeed be allowed, that vegetables do on fome occafions 
act as though poffeffed of volition, avoiding thofe things that are | 
injurious to them, and. turning towards thofe that are beneficial 5. 
.thus appearing to act by choice, which muft be preceded by per- 
ceptivity, a favour that nature has granted I think to the animal 
world alone. The following are brought as. examplest : 
A plane-tree twenty feet high, growing upon the top of a wall, 
ftraitened for nourifhment in that barren fituation, directed its roots . 
down the fide of the wall, till they reached the ground ten feet 
below, It has been amply repaid, fay they, for its trouble ever fince, 
* Dr. Percival, Manchefter Tranfaétions 
t Manchefter, Tranfsétions, . 
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