12 INTRODUCTION. 



ciple. It encourages the germination of plants, preserves and also revives 

 many vegetable products. 



A species of Tremella, of a fine yellow colour, may be found vege- 

 tating as a parasite on the ligneous parts of common furze, towards the 

 middle of autumn, especially in damp seasons. Then it is beautiful, 

 plump, smooth, and vigorous. But, when removed from its proper 

 sphere, it dries and shrivels up to the smallest dimensions. 



Long ago I selected many specimens. They dried and shrivelled up, 

 and so remained during weeks and months, until humectation restored 

 their vigour. 



In prosecuting a course of observations, I selected and laid aside 

 some of the best and largest, besides the preceding, which, like them, 

 became equally dry and shrivelled. They were preserved with much 

 care untouched, until forty years had been allowed to elapse, when I 

 moistened them again. Although they did not acquire their pristine 

 size and vigour, their enlargement was such as to shew that the vital 

 principle belonging to the nature of vegetables, still subsisted throughout 

 that long interval. 



Well authenticated narratives prove the preservation of the germi- 

 nating faculty of vegetable seeds for ages. 



It appears to the learned, that the frame of the larger and more 

 important animals of the higher orders, has been constructed after nearly 

 the same model. Some of no mean attainments, have also argued that a 

 continuous chain connects living nature, whereby each distinct genus 

 passes through the slightest variation into one preceding or following it. 



It may be that the discharge of the vital functions requires the pre- 

 sence of similar organs throughout all animals, though they cannot be 

 recognized independently : and if ever a chain of beings was designed at 

 the creation, it may be now interrupted by the links broken from the 

 lapse of time. 



The peculiar distribution of life amidst the multiplied forms occu- 

 pying the universe, is a subject for profound reflection, could it be ren- 

 dered intelligible in words. 



The disposition of the tribe, which is animated, seems to be modi- 



