X. THE BARK. 1 93 



age, when the whiteness passes away again, and 

 the rending is like that of other trees, downwards. 

 So that, as it were in a changing language, we 

 have the great botanical fact twice taught us, by 

 this tree of Eden, that the skins of trees differ 

 from the skins of the higher animals in that, for 

 the most part, they won't stretch, and must be 

 worn torn. 



So that in fact the most popular arrangement 

 of vegetative adult costume is Irish ; a normal 

 investiture in honourable rags ; and decorousness 

 of tattering, as of a banner borne in splendid ruin 

 through storms of war. 



5. Now therefore, if we think of it, we have five 

 distinct orders of investiture for organic creatures ; 

 first, mere secretion of mineral substance, chiefly 

 lime, into a hard shell, which, if broken, can only 

 be mended, like china — by sticking it together; 

 secondly, organic substance of armour which grows 

 into its proper shape at once for good and all, 

 and can't be mended at all, if broken, (as of 

 insects) ; thirdly, organic substance of skin, which 

 stretches, as the creature grows, by cracking, over 

 a fresh skin which is supplied beneath it, as 

 in bark of trees ; fourthly, organic substance of 

 skin cracked symmetrically into plates or scales 

 which can increase all round their edges, and are 



13 



