228 DR. CARUS ON THE KINGDOMS OF NATURE, 



From these general conclusions we proceed to a survey of the dif- 

 ferent kingdoms of nature, in order to submit to a closer examination 

 the peculiarity of their life and their mutual relations. For this pur- 

 pose we must define more exactly the boundaries of each separate 

 kingdom. Here we must first make a distinction between the celestial 

 and the terrestrial bodies. To the former belong the solar systems, in- 

 cluding the earth considered as a planet. The idea of terrestrial bodies 

 comprehends all the different single objects perceptible by the senses in 

 and on the earth. Now, terrestrial bodies, according to their appearing 

 or not appearing as independent organisms, form two principal classes, 

 and this leads to a second division of bodies into the organized and unor- 

 ganized. We divide the inorganic bodies likewise, as far as we con- 

 sider them members of the planet, into the constituent parts of the 

 body of the earth, and the constituent parts of the atmosphere, viz. 

 1 . FossQs and liquids ; 2. Gases and vapours. The organic bodies are 

 divided into vegetable and animal bodies. We have therefore four 

 kingdoms of nature, and four different departments of natural philo- 

 sophy belonging to them. The kingdom of the earth (Geology) ; the 

 kingdom of the air (Atmospherology) ; the vegetable kingdom (Phyto- 

 logy, Botany) ; the animal kingdom (Zoology). 



Of the Inorganic Kingdom. 



The great elementary masses of the earth are formed and governed 

 by many powers, among which we may distinguish those which relate 

 to the individual preservation of the planet, from those which originate 

 in other heavenly bodies. Of the former the most remarkable is Gra- 

 vitation, which manifests itself as the immediate principle of internal 

 unity, the sensible tendency of all parts of the earth to a common centre, 

 and therefore to an ideal unity, since according to Euclid no point can 

 be represented materially. But another eflPect presenting itself in the 

 visible relation of the earth to other heavenly bodies, is that which we 

 perceive under the form of Light. These two powers, when united, 

 produce other phsenomena ; for instance, heat, which results from the 

 opposition between the rays of light and the direction of gravity: 

 wherefore we observe the heat of the earth to be more intense, the more 

 the heated body is found to be in a straight line between the illumi- 

 nating and the illuminated object, that is, between the centre of the sun 

 and that of the earth. To these also belongs the phaenomenon called 

 magnetism, as the effect of the gravitation of the earth, and its po- 

 sition with respect to the other planets, i. e. the direction of its axis. In 

 heat the predomimtnt principle is light ; whereas the predominant prin- 

 ciple in magnetism is gravitation. To these we find new powers still 

 added, among which the mechanical and the chemical appear to be 

 allied to gravitation and magnetism, (for the laws of mechanics are esr 



