CRYPTOGAMIA. *9 



Howards, and the species, to the Houses of Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Carlisle, and Effingham. 



Although at first view the structure and appear- 

 ance of a plant is strikingly different from an animal, 

 yet from the examples in the preceding pages, there 

 are some instances in which their character resembles 

 each other so strongly, that it has been found more 

 difficult than it would be at first imagined, to make 

 an accurate distinction between them. The power of 

 changing place in animals is an obvious character 

 which serves to make a good general distinction be- 

 tween these two kingdoms of nature, but on close 

 examination it will be found that there are many ani- 

 mals that have no such power ; and there are vegeta- 

 bles that have no root, and are constantly changing 

 place. Spontaneous motion and irritability are also 

 common to the vegetable kingdom, as I have already- 

 shewn . That definition therefore of a plant which 

 has been thought to be the least objectionable, is, 

 that it is an organized body, nourished by matter des- 

 titute of any living principle, while animals live upon 

 what possesses, or has possessed life ; and the conside- 

 ration of this law is the more interesting, as it would 

 seem to shew one grand scheme in the universe, in 

 which the Fossil, the Vegetable, and the Animal 

 kingdoms are rendered alike subservient to each 

 other, and mutually perish to restore new life, to 

 perpetuate the revolving system of Nature. 



VOL. III. D 



