Chap. XIV. Of Change of Species. i2 y 



which Pofture they are feen to have: And if they 

 moved backwards, that would have much the fame 

 Effect on all the collateral Branchings to deftroy them. 

 Smeli and Tafte then could be of no manner of Ufe 

 to Vegetables, if they had them •, they would have 

 no Remedy or Pofiibility to mend themfelves from 

 the fame Mouths, removing to fearch out ocher Food, 

 in cafe they had Power to diflike or ret ufe what was 

 offered them. 



Therefore the crude Earth, being their Food, fim- 

 ple and free from any Alterations by VeiTels, remain- 

 ing infipid, cannot give, neither can Plants receive, 

 require, or make ufe of, any Variety from it, as Ani- 

 mals do from their Diet. It would be loft upon them, 

 and Nature would have acted in vain, to give Smell 

 and Tafte to Vegetables, and nothing but infipid 

 Earth for an Object of them ; or to give them a 

 charming Variety of Relifh and Savour in their Food, 

 without giving them Senfes necefTary to perceive or 

 enjoy them ; which would be like Light and Colours 

 to the Blind, Sound and Mufic to the Deaf, or like 

 giving Eyes and Ears to Animals, without Light or 

 Sound to affect them. 



The Mouths of Plants, fituate in the convex Su- 

 perficies of Roots, are analogous to the Lacteals, or 

 Mouths, in the concave Superficies of the Inteftines 

 of Animals. 



Thefe fpongy Superficies of animal Guts, and 

 vegetable Roots, have no more Tafte or Power of 

 refufing whatever comes in Contact with them, the 

 one than the ether. 



The free open Air would be equally injurious to 

 both •, and if expofed to it, it would dry and clofe up 

 the fine Orifices in Guts and Roots : Therefore Na- 

 ture has guarded both from it. 



Nature has alfo provided for the Prefervation of 

 both Vegetables and Animals (I do not fay equally) 



Q^ in 



