286 THE SEASON WHY. 



" He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with 



his arm, aud carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those 



that are with young." ISAIAH XL. 



1139. Why have the females of the kangaroo and opossum 

 tribes pouches, or pockets, formed in the skin of their breasts 

 for the reception of their young ? 



Because their young ones are remarkably small and helpless ; 

 in fact, more so than those of any other animal of equal proportions. 

 Besides which, the full grown animals have very long hind-legs, 

 and they progress by a series of extraordinary leaps. It would 

 consequently be impossible for their helpless young ones to follow 

 them : God has therefore given to female kangaroos and opossums 

 curious pockets, formed out of their own skin, in which they place 

 their little young ones, and bear them through their surprising leaps 

 with the greatest ease and safety. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 



1140. What is the difference between an animal, a plant, 

 and a mineral ? 



The great naturalist, Linnaeus, used to say that minerals, and 

 animals grow, live, and feel; plants grow and live; and minerals 

 grow. 



Animals are here defined to enjoy three conditions of existence ; 

 plants two conditions ; and minerals one condition. 



This definition has, in latter days, been held to be unsatisfactory, 

 since there are a few plants that are supposed to feel, and a few 

 animals that are supposed to have even less feeling than the 

 sensitive plants alluded to. 



The concise definition by Linnaeus, nevertheless, is true, as far as 

 regards a vast majority of the bodies constituting the three great 

 kingdoms of nature. And it may be sufficient to say that 



Animals grow, live, feel, and move, 



Plants grow and live. 



Minerals grow, by the addition of particles of inorganic matter. 



If we now state the few exceptions that are admitted to this definition, we 

 uhall bring the explanation as near to the truth, as the present state of 

 knowledge will permit. 



