64 EVOLUTION OF Lilt. 



ocean to the English channel, in order to de- 

 vour the offal by which it was allured, and 

 which had been thrown overboard. 



If the comparison between vegetables and 

 animals, and especially the human species, were 

 made, with respect to the means by which their 

 wants are supplied, we should be led to admit 

 the self sufficiency of the one, and the total in- 

 digency of the other. While vegetables flourish 

 and evolve for months, years, and even centu- 

 ries, by means of fluids only, of the" simple 

 nourishment of water and of air, which they 

 principally receive through the medium of the 

 soil, animals require not fluids only, but solids 

 also. In the one, the conversion of the food 

 from a common to a living state, is accomplish- 

 ed by the easiest possible means ; in the other, 

 the agency of different organs is necessary, be- 

 fore the process of assimilation can be accom- 

 plished. While the former flourish and propa- 

 gate without the necessity of having organs of 

 apprehension ; such is the imperfect condition 

 of the latter in these respects, that without or- 

 gans of apprehension, they could riot pos- 

 sibly obtain the means of support ; they 

 would perish for want, without fulfilling the 

 end of their existence. 



If we were to descend to particulars, we 

 should be at once convinced of the indigency 

 of the higher order of animals, in the propagate 



