NATURAL HISTORY. 



335 



the same kind. The motions, in 

 both cases, are equally accommo- 

 dated to the preservation of the 

 being to which they belong ; are 

 equally distinct and uniform j and 

 should be equally derived from me- 

 chanism, or equally admitted as cri- 

 teria of perception. The genera- 

 tion, nutrition, organization, life, 

 health, sickness, and death of plants, 

 establish no discriminative charac- 

 teristic between them and animals. 

 A communication of sexes, in order 

 to produce their hke, belongs to 

 certain vegetables, as well as to 

 certain animals. Expiration and 

 inspiration, a kind of larynx and 

 lungs, perspiration, imbibition, ar- 



teries, veins, lactdals, and probably 

 a circulating fluid, appertain to ve- 

 getables, as well as to animals. Life 

 belongs alike to both kingdoms, and 

 seems to depend upon the same 

 principle in both. Both are inca- 

 pable of assimilating to their proper 

 substance, all kinds of food ; for 

 fruits ai-e found to taste of the soil, 

 just as the milk, and flesh, and bones, 

 and urine of animals, often give in- 

 dications of the particular pabulum 

 with wliich they have been fed. 

 Both die of old age ; from excess of 

 huncrer or thirst ; from external in- 

 juries ; from mtemperance of wea- 

 ther j or from poisoned food. 



USEFUL 



