376 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



hard and compact scales of a cone, or barricadoed 

 (as in the artichoke and thistle) with spikes and 

 prickles ; in mushrooms, placed under a pent- 

 house ; in ferns, within slits in the back part of 

 the leaf: or (which is the most general organiza- 

 tion of all) we find them covered by strong, close 

 tunicles, and attached to the stem according to an 

 order appropriated to each plant, as is seen in the 

 several kinds of grains and of grasses. 



In which enumeration, what we have first to 

 notice is, unity of purpose under variety of expe- 

 dients. Nothing can be more single than the de- 

 sign ; more diversified than the means. Pellicles, 

 shells, pulps, pods, husks, skin, scales armed with 

 thorns, are all employed in prosecuting the same 

 intention. Secondly ; we may observe, that, in 

 all these cases, the purpose is fulfilled within a 

 just and limited degree. We can perceive, that 

 if the seeds of plants were more strongly guarded 

 than they are, their greater security would inter- 

 fere with other uses. Many species of animals 

 would suffer, and many perish, if they could not 

 obtain access to them. The plant would overrun 

 the soil ; or the seed be w^asted for want of room 

 to sow itself. It is sometimes as necessary to de- 

 stroy particular species of plants, as it is, at other 

 times, to encourage their growth. Here, as in 

 many cases, a balance is to be maintained between 

 opposite uses. The provisions for the preserva- 

 tion of seeds appear to be directed chiefly against 

 the inconstancy of the elements, or the sweeping 



