ANIMALS AND VEGETABLES. 1 1 



viduals in each fpecles ©f the latter flir exceed 

 rhofe of the fcrmer. In animals, as well as in 

 plants, the number of individuals is much great- 

 er in the fmall than in the large kinds. Flies 

 are ii^ifmitcly more numerous than elephants ; 

 and there are more herbs than trees. But, if we 

 compare the number of individuals in each fpe- 

 cies, the individuals in each fpecies of plant f.ir 

 exceed thofe of the animal. Quadrupeds, for 

 example, produce but few. at a tim.e, and at con- 

 fiderable intervals. Trees, on the contrary, pro- 

 duce annually an amazing number of feeds. It 

 may be alledged, that, to render this comparifon 

 exact, the number of feeds produced by a tree 

 ihould be compared with the number of germs 

 contained in the femen of an animal; and then, 

 perhaps, it would appear, that animals abound 

 mere in germs than vegetables. But, by colled:- 

 in^ and fowing the feeds of a fingle elm tree, 

 100,000 young elms may be raifed from the pro- 

 dud of one year. Though a horfe, however, 

 were furniihed with all tlie m.areS he could cover 

 in a year, the reiult between the produ6tion of 

 the animal and of the plant would be very diffe- 

 rent. I avoid taking notice of the number of 

 germs; bccaufeof thefe,erpecially hi the animal, 

 we have no certam knowledge, and becaufe the 

 fame fcminal germs may exill in the vegetable ; 

 for the feed of a plant is not a germ, but a pro- 

 duQion as perfed as the foetus of an animal, and 



which, 



