1?2 HISTORY OF 



the similitude of the parent plant or flower. But 

 a most numerous tribe of animals have lately been 

 discovered, which are propagated by cuttings, and 

 this in so extraordinary a manner, that, though 

 the original insect be divided into a thousand parts, 

 each, however small, shall be formed into an ani- 

 mal, entirely resembling that which was at first 

 divided : in this respect, therefore, certain races 

 of animals seem to fall beneath vegetables, by their 

 more imperfect propagation. 



What, therefore, is the distinction between 

 them ? or are the orders so intimately blended as 

 that it is impossible to mark the boundaries of 

 each ? To me it would seem that all animals are 

 possessed of one power, of which vegetables are 

 totally deficient ; I mean either the actual ability, 

 or an awkward attempt at self-preservation. How^ 

 ever vegetables may seem possessed of this impor- 

 tant quality, yet it is with them but a mechanical 

 impulse, resembling the raising one end of the 

 lever, when you depress the other ; the sensitive 

 plant contracts and hangs its leaves, indeed, when 

 touched, but this motion no way contributes to 

 its safety ; the fly-trap flower acts entirely in 

 the same manner, and though it seems to seize 

 the little animal that comes to annoy it, yet, 

 in reality, it only closes mechanically upon it, and 

 this enclosure neither contributes to its preser- 

 vation nor its defence. But it is very different 

 with insects even of the lowest order ; the earth- 

 worm not only contracts but hides itself in the 

 earth, and escapes with some share of swift- 

 ness from its pursuers. The polypus hides its 



