472 CHARACTER OF VEGETABLE VITALITY. CHAP. XI. 



unorganized substances, which it derives from the 

 atmosphere or the soil in which it grows. The defi- 

 nition of the animal is the counter-part : an animal 

 is an organized and living being proceeding from an 

 egg or embryo, which it again produces ; and effect- 

 ing the developement of its parts by means of the 

 intro-susception of organized substances, or their 

 products. 



If no one of the foregoing rules or definitions is 

 altogether without exception, neither is there any 

 one of them without its utility. They are all founded 

 on some leading feature observable in at least the 

 greater part of the subjects meant to be characterized : 

 and if the naturalist does not succeed in the attain- 

 ment of his object by means of the adoption of any 

 one rule, he will probably succeed by means of the 

 aid of another ; for if all of them should even prove to 

 be defective, they will not all be defective in the same 

 respect; and at the most it is only in a few cases 

 jthat difficulties are likely to occur, and in which it is 

 to be feared that difficulties will always remain. 

 For if nature has not assigned to the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms respectively any definite and 

 specific limits, but has blended them as it were both 

 together, it is in vain for man to institute his dis- 

 tinctions. It is extremely desirable, however, that 

 some criterion should be established, as general in 

 its extent and as easy in its application as possible : 

 and for all practical purposes, perhaps plants may 

 J3<3 distinguished from animals with sufficient ac- 



