24- Analogy between Vegetables and Animals 



This species, from the absence of eyes, is sufficiently dis- 

 tinguished from others of its genus. It is mentioned by Ray 

 {Syn, Pise, p. 35.), but omitted in later systems of natural 

 history. 



If in its habits the silver lamprey (P. fluviatilis L,) bears 

 a resemblance to the glutton (t/'rsus gulo L.\ this makes 

 as near an approach to the mole ( Talpa europae'a L.), It 

 frequents our smaller streams, living in the muddy bottom, 

 from which it rarely, if ever, w^ilHngly emerges. I have 

 kept it for months in stagnant water, with mud at the bot- 

 tom, without injury to its health or activity. The only 

 apparent use of its fins is to enable it to regain its station, 

 when forced from it by violent torrents. When kept in clear 

 water it seems to sleep much. I have never found this species 

 to attach itself to any object by the mouth ; but the lips are 

 capable of extensive and complicated motions. It spawns 

 at the end of April and the beginning of May. Fishermen 

 collect them to use as bait when whiffing for pollacks. 



Art. V. An Essay on the Analogy between the Structure and 

 Functions of Vegetables and Animals. By William Gordon-, 

 Esq. Surgeon, Welton, near Hull. Read before the Hull Lite- 

 rary and Philosophical Society, Nov. 19. 1830. Communicated 

 by Mr. Gordon. 



{Continued from Vol. IV. p. 393.) 



I HAVE now pointed out the close analogy that exists be- 

 tween vegetables and animals, in so far as it regards the form 

 of their ultimate corpuscles, the composition, and extensive 

 diffiision of their membranous matter, the structure of their 

 cellular tissue, and the organisation and functions of their 

 cutaneous system. I shall next endeavour to show that 

 plants, as well as animal beings, possess a muscular tissue. 

 In order to do this, I must first take a review of the proper- 

 ties of muscular fibre, as they are exhibited in the animal 

 body. 



The properties of muscle may be divided into physical and 

 vital. The former are, cohesion, flexibility, extensibility, and 

 elasticity. On these it is not necessary for me to make any 

 observations. The vital property of muscle is what more 

 immediately concerns our subject, and is termed contractility : 

 it is that specific faculty which muscular fibre possesses of 

 contracting or shortening itself. When a stimulant is applied 

 to a muscle, its fibres are thrown into what is called a state of 

 contraction : its belly swells out, and grows hard to the touch ; 

 its surface, which in its natural condition was smooth, becomes 



