12 INTRODUCTION. 



the desire of self-preservation and the impulse of reproduc- 

 tion. 



The VEGETABLE KINGDOM is sufficiently distinguished from 

 the animal, as before remarked, by its passive character, by the 

 want of spontaneous motion, and of sensation. Vegetable life 

 is therefore supported by absorption ; and its functions, like 

 those of animals, are exercised in nutrition, developement, and 

 reproduction. The principal part of the nourishment of plants 

 is derived from their roots ; and their texture is composed of 

 tissues and vessels formed for absorbing, retaining, and elabora- 

 ting the nutritive juices drawn from the soil and atmosphere. 

 The vegetable kingdom likewise has this analogy among others 

 with the animal, that the function of reproduction is performed 

 through the medium of sexual organs. These organs are pro- 

 tected by the corolla or flower ; and all the display of colour 

 and form in this essential part of vegetables is, like the notes 

 of many birds, connected with the important purpose of the con- 

 tinuation of the species. The number, form, and situation of 

 these organs has afforded to Linnaeus the chief characters in 

 his simple though artificial arrangement of the classes and orders 

 of plants, in consequence termed the sexual system ; while what 

 is called the natural system, proposed by Jussieu, is founded 

 chiefly upon the presence or absence and the nature of the seed 

 or germ the relative position of the stamina^-and upon the 

 absence or presence and form of the corolla. 



The MINERAL KINGDOM is distinguished from the other 

 two great divisions by the absence of vitality and organic 

 structure. Forming the solid crust of the globe, the mine- 

 ral kingdom in its various compounds affords support and sus- 

 tenance to the organized beings existing on its surface. The 

 constitution and arrangement of the mineral strata have given 

 rise to various theories to account for their present appearance ; 

 but facts have not yet been sufficiently multiplied to afford a 

 satisfactory solution. One great line, however, is drawn between 

 those mineral strata which have been termed Primitive, in which 

 no organized remains occur ; and those of posterior formation, 

 in which the remains of plants and animals are discovered. The 



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