6 HEDWIG ON THE ORGANS OF 



considered as male organs by Von Gleichen ; even 

 the very seed lobes, and many parts taken fqr 

 trunk or stalk, were not destitute of them. 



But as the cuticle cannot be taken off from all 

 leaves with equal facility (in several of them it is 

 impossible) nor its component parts observed with 

 equal facility in all states, I fhall previously say 

 something on the best method of treating and ob- 

 serving it. 



Mr. Von Gleichen observes, that he easily 

 raised the epidermis or cuticle of the common 

 polypody with a pin, but in the wall-rue he 

 was only able to perform this operation close to, , 

 the covering of the seeds. The reason of this 

 was, that the old leaves of the former plant begin, 

 in autumn (the season in which he made his expe- 



vegetables grow and live ; animals grow, live and feel. But even if it 

 were possible to conceive the existence of totally senseless life, the idea, 

 would be too abstract for the foundation of distinctive characters. If so, 

 the above suggestion of Hedwig will merit at least the attention of the 

 naturalist According to him, animals would be such organized bodies 

 as retain their sexual parts after their function has been performed, and 

 repeat it with the same ; vegetables would, or. the contrary, be organized 

 bodies, whicbjloosin their sexual organs a r ter impregnation, mud bring 

 forth new ones for the reiteration of it. The ch:ef objections against this 

 definition, however, seem to be those animals which propagate once only 

 leforc they die. T. 



