SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS. 179 



of express adaptation to special circumstances 

 which the physiology of plants affords. But it is 

 impossible not to perceive that it is a very striking 

 instance,, inasmuch as without it there could be 

 no vegetation in places such as rocks, where there 

 is no soil, and in arid sands affording little or 

 nothing of the moisture ordinarily required for 

 luxuriant vegetation. It is impossible, therefore, 

 not to regard the physiological structure of the 

 succulent plants of the sea-shore as an evidence 

 of design on the part of that Being whose will 

 it is that the earth should nowhere be wholly 

 destitute of vegetable productions, and by whose 

 intention accordingly the capability of existing 

 and flourishing in their particular locality is 

 specially provided in the structure of the plants 

 now referred to. 



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