348 HISTORY OF 



which the earth offers, and with which it is every- 

 where covered, animals hold the first rank ; as 

 well because of the finer formation of their parts, 

 as of their superior power. The vegetable, which 

 is fixed to one spot, and obliged to wait for its 

 accidental supplies of nourishment, may be con- 

 sidered as the prisoner of nature. Unable to 

 correct the disadvantages of its situation, or to 

 shield itself from the dangers that surround it, 

 every object that has motion may be its destroyer. 

 But animals are endowed with powers of mo- 

 tion and defence. The greatest part are capable, 

 by changing place, of commanding nature ; and 

 of thus obliging her to furnish that nourishment 

 which is most agreeable to their state. Those 

 few that are fixed on one spot, even in this seem- 

 ingly helpless situation, are, nevertheless, pro- 

 tected from external injury, by a hard shelly 

 covering, which they open and close at pleasure, 

 and thus defend themselves from every assault. 

 And here, I think, we may draw the line between 

 the animal and vegetable kingdoms. Every ani- 

 mal, by some means or other, finds protection 

 from injury ; either from its force, or courage, 

 its swiftness, or cunning. Some are protected 

 by hiding in convenient places ; and others by 

 taking refuge in a hard resisting shell. But, 

 vegetables are totally unprotected ; they are ex- 

 posed to every assailant, and patiently submissive 

 in every attack. In a word, an animal is an or- 

 ganized being that is in some measure provided 

 for its own security ; a vegetable is destitute of 

 every protection. 



