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Animals. 201 



contiguous extremities of the animal and 

 vegetable kingdom, these striking differ- 

 ences gradually disappear, the objects ac- 

 quire a greater degree of resemblance, 

 and at last approach each other so near- 

 ly, that it is scarcely possible to decide 

 whether some of those species which are 

 situated on the very boundary, belong to 

 the animal or vegetable kingdom. In- 

 deed we find the vegetable, animal, and 

 mineral kingdoms so closely connected, 

 like the links of a chain, that there is no 

 possibility of finding a disjunction in any 

 part, nor saying with precision where the 

 one ends and the other begins, so nearly 

 do they approach each other in the ex- 

 tremes of each class* 



The term animal, in a general sense, 

 is applied to every thing that is supposed 

 to be alive to the sensations of pain and 

 pleasure. Under the name of animal, 

 therefore, are included men, quadrupeds, 

 ibirds, fishes, reptiles, and insects. Ani- 

 xnal literally means a living- thing- ; but 

 plants live. Linnaeus has formed a cli- 

 max of the grand departments of crea- 

 tion. Stones grow ; vegetables grow and. 

 live ; animals grow, live* and feel. 

 R2 



