INTRODUCTION. 1 3 



rendered tit for the habitation of such innumerable multitudes of 

 living beings, no one can help feeling that it is in the structure 

 and actions of these beings themselves, that these attributes are 

 more evidently manifested to the intelligent observer. And 

 although the Animal kingdom has usually been regarded as 

 affording more remarkable instances of their display than the 

 Vegetable world, it may be doubted whether, when the latter is 

 more closely examined, it will not appear equally or yet more 

 wonderful ; the simplicity of the means being most strikingly 

 contrasted with the vastness of the ends attained. 



