Boyal Society. 9 1 



But where shall we find any power, or qualltv, as a substi- 

 ture for "sensation ? The iciea of insthict is naturally asso- 

 ciated with that of Ufe, and the idea of both, either jointly, 

 or separately, with that of semution ; and as sensation does 

 exist in animals independently of those eminent attributes 

 with which it is combined in our natures as rational agents, 

 may we not reasonably infer that vegetables have likewise 

 their share of sensitive power, and consequently the means 

 of enjoying their own existence?" 



Here the Author refers to some Additional Observations 

 on Sensation; but as our limits will not allow us to make 

 any further extracts from this interesting publication, we 

 must beg leave to refer our readers to the work itseli, and 

 perhaps they will give to the Author a vote of thanks for 

 the rational amusement which they may have enjoyed by 

 the pcrusual. 



XXX IV. Proceedings of Learned Societies. 



ROYAL SOCIETY. 



Feb. 27. ^IR Joseph Banks, observing the motion of a 

 snake (which had recently been sent to him) along the 

 floor of his library, discovered that it was assisted in ad- 

 vancing by its ribs, which served the purpose of feet, the 

 points of them touching the ground, and by those means 

 facilitating its motion. The fact was made known to Mr. 

 Home, who availed himself of the occasion to observe more 

 minutely the peculiar construction of the ribs of snakes, 

 and the mariner they are adapted for this hitherto unob- 

 served purpose of moving their bodies. The result of his 

 examination was read in a short paper to the Society, 

 stating the curious discovery of the President, and the ac- 

 curacy of his observations. 



March 5. A very long paper by Mr. Brodie was read, 

 containing a minute detail of the author's additional expe- 

 riments of the effects of various poisons on different ani- 

 mals. In one or two cases Mr. B. succeeded in recovering 

 the animals by artificial respiration ; but in the great ma- 

 jority of his experiments he failed. It appears that the 

 slight inflanmiation which occurs in the stomach after tak- 

 ing poison into it is not sufficient to occasion death, but 

 that It is the palsying power of the drn<rs on the nervous sy- 

 stem and on the blood, which destroys life. Some poisons 

 \\\ this respect are much more destructive than others j but 



the 



