84) PLANARIA FELINA. 



and difficult enquiry ; less so, however, in 

 endeavouring to understand how the origi- 

 nal superfluities or imperfections of orga- 

 nization appear, than the subsequent re- 

 dundancy of parts. Assuming that the 

 elements of the future animal pre-exist 

 fecundation, and are perfect, it is more 

 easy to comprehend how excoriations in an 

 early stage of life may admit such a union 

 from the powerful tendency of animated 

 matter to vegetation, as to produce mon- 

 strosity by excess ; and as the whole aber- 

 rations of natui'e are perhaps reducible to 

 two divisions only, we can in like manner 

 conjecture how an injury to some unfold- 

 ing organic principle shall repress its com- 

 pletion, and occasion monstrosity by defect. 

 We can also ascribe the renewal of parts to 

 that law which strives to maintain the inte- 

 grity of an animal, and preserve to it the 

 means of carrying on functions necessary 

 to its existence, though it be unaccountable 

 why the reproduction never exceeds the 

 proper limits. 



