282 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
5. On the distinctions supposed to limit oe bigest and Animal 
Kingdoms ;_ by Epwin Lanxester, M.D., S, (Notices of oitaae 
ings of the Roy. Ins., Mar. 24, 1854. —In c From ei the Lecturer 
made some general remarks on classification; and pointed out as im- 
portance of accurate definitions in order to constitute the classes, fami- 
lies, genera, and species of the naturalist. e importance of defining 
mal and vegetable kingdoms consiste our imperfect knowledge of 
the characters of species which exist ere on what might be called the 
limits of the two kingdoms. The history of the attempts at defining 
animals and plants, for systematic purposes, would afford the best idea 
of the nature of these difficulties. The definition of Linnzus, that 
see grow, plants grow and live, animals grow, live, and feel, was 
first examined. In order to apply this definition, the terms growth, life, 
and foalliat, required explanation. Growth simply indicated increase. 
The term /ife could not be defined in such a manner as to render it in- 
applicable to the physical phenomena of the inorganic world and at 
e same time embrace the lowest forms of organized beings. Feeling 
of the Dionea muscipula, the stamens of the barberry, wise the closing 
and unfolding of flowers, from those of the animal om, h 
were the distinctions attempted to be made by one who saagealed the 
use of the microscope. 
One of the most obvious distinctions between the organic and inor- 
ganic kingdoms was the presence of the cell in the former. Under 
eytoblast, primordial utricle, and endoplast, had been recognised by all 
vegetable physiologists. This substance, composed of protein, was 8 
actively motile in the plant as the animal. It was this substance 
which gave motility to the cells of Protococcus, the fibres of Oscillaria, 
the spores of various ae and aa and probably also to all 
other movements observed amongst plan 
When cilia were originally Jecoredes as the agents of movement 
in oe and upon the internal | organs of higher animals, bee were 
al life. These organs were now. 
