OF NATURx^L HISTORY. 49 



There are ftill other modes of multiplying common to 

 the animal and vegetable. Many plants are multiplied by 

 fuckers^ flips, and cuttings. 



The animal kingdom furnifhes examples of allthefe modes 

 of multiplication. The fuckers of plants have an exa6t anal- 

 ogy to the fhoots of a polypus. When feparated from the 

 parent, the fucker becomes a perfect plant, and the fhoot of 

 the polypus a perfedl animal. Plants are capable of multi- 

 plication by flips and cuttings : And the portions of a poly- 

 pus, however fmall, or when cut in any direction, repro- 

 duce, and become perfefl animals of the fame fpecies. 



But fome fpecies of the polypus, the dart-millepes, and 

 (everal animalcules which appear in infulions of animal and 

 vegetable fubftances, multiply by fplitting, or fpontaneous 

 feparation. Here the analogy between the animal and vege- 

 table might be fuppofed to fail. The water-lentil, hovv^ever, 

 a fmall plant, which covers the furface of flagnating pools, 

 multiplies its fpecies by detaching thin films from the under 

 fide of the leaf. Thefe films or tender leaves produce roots, 

 and vegetate into a regular plant. 



We muft not difmifs this lubje(St till another analogy be 

 unfolded. All animals have feafons peculiar to their refpec- 

 tive kinds. Some of the larger animals produce in the 

 fpring, others in fummer, others in autumn, and others in 

 winter. With regard to the infeCi tribes, their feafons are 

 fiiill more various. Every month, every week of the year, 

 gives birth to diiFerent fpecies. The leafons of plants are 

 diverfified in a fimilar manner. The growth of difl^erent 

 vegetables is difhributed over the whole year. Particular 

 tribes fpring up at the fam.e uniform periods. In this beau- 

 tiful diverfity of arrangement, the intentions of Nature are 

 evident. If all plants were to rufh forward at the fame 

 time, they would infallibly choke each other. The furface 

 of the earth could not afford them room. Nature has there- 



