22 DISTINCTrONS BETWEKN ANIMALS 



Vegetables are organized, supported by air and food, 

 endowed with life and subject to death as well as ani- 

 mals. They have in some instances spontaneous, 

 though we know not that they have voluntary, motion. 

 They are sensible to the action of nourishment, air, and 

 light, and either thrive or languish according to the 

 wholesome or hurtful application of these stimulants. 

 This is evident to all who have ever seen a plant growing 

 in a climate, soil, or situation, not suitable to it. Those 

 who have ever gathered a rose, know but too well how 

 soon it withers ; and the familiar application of its fate 

 to that of human life and beauty is not more striking to 

 the imagination than philosophically and literally true. 

 The sensitive plant is a more astonishing example of 

 the capability of vegetables to be acted upon as living 

 bodies. Other instances ot the same kind we shall 

 hereafter have occasion to mention. 



The spontaneous movements of plants are almost as 

 readily to be observed as their living principle. The 

 general direction of their branches, and especially of the 

 upper surface of their leaves, though repeatedly disturb- 

 ed, to the light ; the unfolding and closing of their 

 flowers at stated times, or according to flivourable or 

 unfavourable circumstances, with some still more curi- 

 ous particulars to be explained in the sequel of this 

 work, are actions undoubtedly depending on their vital 

 principle, and are performed with the greater facility in 

 proportion as that principle is in its greatest vigour. 

 Hence arises a question whether Vegetables are endowed 

 with sensation. As they possess life, irritability and 

 motion, spontaneously directing their organs to what is 



