120 REVIEWS. [April, 



only exceptions to the general law. The physiologist discards 

 the character of sensation, because some plants appear sensitive 

 to touch, and even to atmospheric influences, and to light and 

 heat. But the great argument that volition and sensation cha- 

 racterize animals, may be satisfactorily proved by a priori argu- 

 ments. The Creator has provided animals with protective de- 

 fences against injury, and often with the means of retaliation; 

 not seldom with celerity in escaping from enemies : plants can- 

 not be said to possess these, and therefore it is inferred that they 

 have no occasion for them, i. e. are incapable of feeling or sufier- 

 ing. The chemist knows flesh from vegetable fibre or cellular 

 tissue by chemical tests. A common person will recognize the 

 the savour or smell of animal substance if submitted to fire, as 

 being difierent from that of vegetable tissue. 



The alimentary substances on which the respective individuals 

 of both kingdoms exist, are entirely dissimilar, as are likewise 

 the organs of digestion and assimilation. Much must remain 

 unsaid, because space forbids. We should like to hear from either 

 of the learned Doctors who* indorse the facts illustrative of vege- 

 table physiology, whether the carnivorous qualities of Brosera 

 and Dioncea (pages 204 and 139) are positively ascertained, or 

 whether they be only on-dits or hearsays. Where is there a re- 

 cord of satisfactory experiments confirmatory of the facts therein 

 stated ? 



Is it a claptrap, not for flies, but for another class, that might, 

 with more ill-nature than courtesy, be called by a name which, 

 good manners say, is neither fit for ears nor eyes polite. 



There is another fact which is probably assumed, but, if we are 

 wrong in our assumption, we shall be glad to receive due correc- 

 tion. In page 344 it is stated that the natural form of the tur- 

 nip and radish is completely changed by cultivation. What is 

 the natural form of the radish and turnip ? Again, if " the seeds 

 of any variety of either of these species be raised in a poor soil, 

 they will produce the tough stringy roots characteristic of the 

 original wild plants.'^ Is this true, or is it one of our time- 

 honoured, traditionary hearsays? Surely this is capable of some 

 proof. Who has submitted it to the test of experiment, and what 

 have been the results ? 



The following fact is illustrative of the value of the Natural 

 System, as it is called. " During Lord Anson^s voyage round 



