l€6 «n animal nutrition. Oct. a. 



From these, and other considerations, our^iuthor 

 sees nothing absurd in supposing that the pangolin 

 derives some part, of its nutriment from the mineral 

 kingdom. 



I will frankly own that these considerations have 

 had so much weight with me, as to make me believe 

 that we have too hastily adopted the opinion that ani- 

 mals can only derive nourifhment from animal or ve- 

 getable substances ; and on taking a superficial glance 

 of animated nature, there are innumerable facts pre- 

 sent themselves that seem to give weight to this new 

 adopted opinion : a few of which I ihall briefly enu- 

 merate. 



1st, Live toads have been frequently found in the 

 heart of the most solid stones, where no vegetable or 

 animal substance could come near them. Here mi- 

 neral substances alone would seem to have support- 

 ed life. 



2d, Thepbclades eats through the most solid roekj. 

 It is true this animal always choosey its habitation in 

 such places as can be moistened, at least at times, 

 with sea water, from whicli some may suppose it de- 

 rives its nourifhment ; but can we suppose it would 

 fliow such a decided fondnefs for the stone itself, if it 

 derived no kind of sustenance from "thence •? 



^d. Earth worms are not known to gnaw roots of 

 any plants ; and are always found full of a slimy 

 earth. They do indeed draw into their holes straws, 

 and other decayed vegetables, which they pofsibly 

 empli'y, in a putrified state, as food ; but we have 

 no reason to think that, where these substances are 

 not to be had, the worms would die for want of 

 them. 



