

ON THE POLITY' OF NATURE. 51 



blish themselves in such a manner, as to banish to the still 

 barren districts the first fabricators of their soil. The most 

 perfect plants are, in general, independent of the Animal 

 Kingdom, or able to subsist without their presence. The 

 members of that great family, indeed, are their enemies ra- 

 ther than their friends. 



The animal is, in a great measure, dependent on the 

 vegetable kingdom for food and shelter. Some animals live 

 directly on plants, as their only nourishment, others live on 

 the flesh of other animals, but these last are, in general, sup- 

 ported by vegetable food. Hence, we may assert with con- 

 fidence, that if the vegetable kingdom were to perish, the ex- 

 tinction of life, in the more perfect animals at least, would 

 inevitably follow. Some of the less perfect animals are more 

 independent in their condition. The infusoria appear to 

 subsist by decomposing water. They, however, prepare a 

 suitable repast for the annulose and molluscous tribes ; and 

 these, in their turn, contribute to support the vertebral 

 races. In both kingdoms, therefore, the smallest and most 

 obscure species are subservient to the welfare of those 

 which are larger and more perfect. 



In viewing the relation of these great classes of beings to 

 one another, we perceive an admirable adaptation of means, 

 to the establishment and continuance of the present order 

 of things. The surface of our globe exhibits a great varie- 

 ty of situation for the residence of plants. Part is occupied 

 by land, and part is covered with water. The land varies, 

 in composition and moisture ; the water in its contents and 

 motion ; and both vary in their temperature. But however 

 different these situations appear to be, there are plants pe- 

 culiarly adapted for each, in which they flourish with the 

 greatest vigour, and where they are only restrained within 

 fixed limits, by the physical characters of their station. 



The condition of the Earth, which thus presents different 

 situations for the species of the Vegetable Kingdom, influen- 



