4 DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN ANIMALS 



beneficial to them, and flourishing accordinf^ 

 to their success in satisfvino^ their wants, 

 may not the exercise of their vital functions 

 be attended with some cl^gree of sensation, 

 however low, and some consequent share of 

 happiness? Such a supposition accords with 

 all the best ideas w^e can form of the Divine 

 Creator ; nor could the consequent uneasiness 

 which plants must suifer, no doubt in a very 

 Jow degree likewise, from the depredations 

 of animals, bear any comparison with their 

 enjoyment on the whole. How^ever tliis may 

 be, the want of sensation is most certainly 

 not to be proved with regard to Vegetables, 

 and therefore of no use as a practical means 

 of distinguishing them, in doubtful cases, 

 from Animals. 



Some philosophers* have made a loco- 

 motive power peculiarly characteristic of Ani- 

 mals, not being av;are of the true nature of 

 those half-animated beings called Corals and 

 Corallines, which are fixed, as immoveably 

 as any plants, to the bottom of the sea, while 

 indeed many living vegetables swim around 



* Jungius, Bofrh'aavc, Ludvvig and many , others. 



