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CHAPTER VI. 



INTRODUCTION OP THE PRINCIPLE OF DEVELOPED 

 AND METAMORPHOSED SYMMETRY. 



Sect. 1, Vegetable Morphology. Gothe. 

 De Candolle. 



BEFORE we proceed to consider the progress 

 of principles which belong to animal and 

 human life, such as have just been pointed at, we 

 must look round for such doctrines, if any such 

 there be, as apply alike to all organized beings, 

 conscious or unconscious, fixed or locomotive; to 

 the laws which regulate vegetable as well as animal 

 forms and functions. Though we are very far from 

 being able to present a clear and connected code of 

 such laws, we may refer to one law, at least, which 

 appears to be of genuine authority and validity; 

 and which is worthy our attention as an example 

 of a properly organical or physiological principle, 

 distinct from all mechanical, chemical, or other 

 physical forces; and such as cannot even be con- 

 ceived to be resolvable into those. I speak of 

 the tendency which produces such results as have 

 been brought together in recent speculations upon 

 Morphology. 



It may perhaps be regarded as indicating how 

 peculiar are the principles of organic life, and how 



