LYTHOPHYTES AND SPONGES. 201 



maintained, and as difficultly refuted ; like com- 

 batants that meet in the dark, each party may 

 deal a thousand blows without ever reaching the 

 adversary. Those perhaps are wiser who view 

 nature as she offers ; who, without searching too 

 deeply into the recesses in which she ultimately 

 hides, are contented to take her as she presents 

 herself, and storing their minds with effects rather 

 than with causes, instead of the embarrassment 

 of systems, about which few agree, are contented 

 with the history of appearances, concerning which 

 all mankind have but one opinion. 



