ti8 REFLECTIONS ON 



For example, Mr Trembly, when he firfl: exa- 

 mined the frefh water polypus, fpent much 

 time before he could determine whether it was 

 an animal or a vegetable. The reafon is plain ; 

 this polypus is perhaps neither the one nor the 

 other; and all that can be faid is, that it has 

 moft refemblance to an animal: And, as we are 

 inclined to think, that every organized being is 

 either an animal or a plant, we believe not theex- 

 iftence of any organized body, unlefs it falls un- 

 der fome of thefe general denominations, al- 

 though there muft be, and in fad: there are, 

 many beings which belong neither to the one 

 nor the other. The moving bodies found in 

 the feminal fluids, and in infufions of the flefh 

 of animals, as well as in thofe of all parts of ve- 

 getables, are of this fpecies : We can neither 

 rank them under animals nor vegetables; and 

 no man in his fenfes will ever maintain them to 

 be minerals. 



We may, therefore, pronounce, without hefi- 

 tation, that the great divifion of natural pro- 

 dudlions into animals^ 'vegetables^ and minerals^ 

 comprehends not all material beings ; fmce be- 

 ings exift which can be included in none of 

 thefe clalTes. Nature pafles, by imperceptible 

 fteps, from the animal to the vegetable; but, 

 from the vegetable to the mineral, the paflage is 

 fudden, and the interval great. Here the law 

 of imperceptible degrees fuffers a violation. This 

 circumftance made me fufped, that, by exami- 

 ning 



