52 PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 
ces the species of the Animal Kingdom in a similar manner. 
But animals are not only dependent on the physical char- 
acter of their station, but on the presence of those vegeta- 
bles on which they subsist, whether directly or indirectly. 
In the existing arrangements, animals are distributed, with 
regard to plants, in such a manner, as that a supply of food 
may be readily obtained ; limited, however, so as to prevent 
the excessive increase of any particular species. In their 
turn, animals influence the growth of plants, by keeping 
many species within due bounds, and by assisting the dis- 
semination and nourishment of others. But amidst this 
variety of actionand reaction, and of temporary derangement, 
circumstances always arise, by which irregularities are check- 
ed, losses compensated, and the balance of life preserved. 
Linyaus, from the contemplation of this subject, con- 
cluded, contrary to the generally received opinion, that‘ani- 
mals were created on account of plants, not plants on ac- 
count of animals. The defence of this opinion rests on the 
consideration, of animals having organs suited to cut and 
bruise vegetables as food, and by these operations, some- 
times contributing to preserve an equal proportion among 
the species ; and on the following reasoning, — that the iron 
was not made for the hammer, but the hammer for the 
iron,—the ground not for the plough, but the plough for 
the ground,—the meadow not for the scythe, but the 
scythe for the meadow *. The exclusive consideration of 
the indirect consequences of the actions of animals, has ob- 
viously betrayed Lixna«us into this opinion. That it is 
erroneous, may be easily demonstrated, by the employment 
of his own method of reasoning. Plants, we know, are 
furnished with roots to penetrate the soil for nourishment and 
support ; and fishes have finsadapted for swimming. Now, 
if the soil was not made for plants, but plants for the soil ; 

" « Ameenitates Academica,” vol. vi. p- 22. 
