ANIMALS. 277 



insects are of the minute kinds, their bees and spiders being not 

 half so large as those in the temperate zone. 



The similitude between vegetables and animals is no where 

 more obvious than in those that belong to the ocean, where the 

 nature of one is admirably adapted to the necessities of the other. 

 This element, it is well known, has its vegetables, and its insects 

 that feed upon them, in great abundance. Over many tracts of 

 the sea, a weed is seen floating, which covers the surface, and 

 gives the resemblance of a green and extensive meadow. On 

 the under side of these unstable plants, millions of little animals 

 are found adapted to their situation. For as their ground, if I 

 may so express it, lies over their heads, their feet are placed 

 upon their backs ; and as land animals have their legs below 

 their bodies, these have them above. At land also, most animals 

 are furnished with eyes to see their food ; but at sea, almost all 

 the reptile kinds are \vithout eyes, which might only give them 

 prospects of danger at a time when improvided with the means 

 of escaping it.' 



Thus, in all places, we perceive an obvious similitude between 

 the animals and the vegetables of every region. In general, 

 however, the most perfect races have the least similitude to the 

 vegetable productions on which they are ultimately fed ; while, 

 on the contrary, the meaner the animal, the more local it is found 

 to be, and the more it is influenced by the varieties of the soil 

 where it resides. Many of the more humble reptile kinds are 

 not only confined to one country, but also to a plant ; nay, even 

 to a leaf. Upon that they subsist ; increase with its vegetation, 

 and seem ^o decay as it declines. They are merely the circum- 

 scribed inhabitants of a single vegetable : take them from that, 

 and they instantly die ; being entirely assimilated to the plant 

 they feed on, assuming its colour, and even its medicinal pro. 

 perties. For this reason there are infinite numbers of the meane r 

 animals that we have never an opportunity of seeing in this 

 part of the world ; they are incapable of living separate from 

 their kindred vegetables, which grow only in a certain climate. 



Such animals as are formed more perfect, lead a life of less 

 dependence •, and some kinds are found to subsist in many parts 

 of the world at the same time. But, of all the races of animated 



1 Linnsei Amaenitates, vol. v. p. 63. 

 2a 



