INTRODUCTION 



TO 



PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SYSTEMATICAL 



BOTANY. 



CHAPTER I. 



DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, 

 AND FOSSILS. ON THE VITAL PRINCIPLE ES- 

 SENTIAL TO THE TWO FORMER. 



JLiiOSE who with a philosophical eye have contem- 

 plated the productions of Nature, have all, by common 

 consent, divided them into three great classes, called 

 the Animal, the Vegetable, and the Mineral or Fossil 

 Kingdoms. These terms are still in general use, and 

 the most superficial observer must be struck with their 

 propriety. The application of them seems at first 

 sight perfectly easy, and in general it is so. Difficul 

 ties occur to those only who look very deeply into the 

 > subject. 



Animals have an organized structure which regu- 

 larly unfolds itself, and is nourished and supported by 



B 



