180 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



On the other hand, there are numerous tiny ani- 

 mals found in ponds, lakes, and rivers, and near 

 rocky cliffs in the oceans, whose very bodies simu- 

 late in every respect the most delicately tinted 

 flowers, or even a handful of jewels; yet, with all 

 these apparently inconsistent qualities, these won- 

 derful, flower-like beings belong unquestionably 

 to the animal kingdom. 



It is practically impossible to make a distinction 

 between the two kingdoms. There are no hard 

 and fast lines in nature. In defining the limits be- 

 tween these two kingdoms, scientists in dealing with 

 the lower forms of life have made many errors; 

 and as a result a number of the lower forms of both 

 animal and vegetable life have, at different periods 

 of their existence, been classed as both plants and 

 animals. 



Even at this advanced age animals, such as the 

 Sertularia, are gathered and preserved as sea- 

 mosses ! Of course, this is done only by people who 

 are unaware that these leaf-like animals are really 

 not plants. 



In 1850 all bacteria were assigned to the vege- 

 table kingdom, but now they are fully recognised 

 as members of the animal kingdom. Of course 

 one knows that a lily is a plant, and that a squirrel 

 is an animal; but in the lower forms of life it is 



