Dana on the relations of Death to Life in Nature. 



318 



Animal life, as above stated, was made to subsist on plants. 

 But the scheme is so well managed as not to disturb the balance 

 made by the vegetable kingdom alone. For all the carbon of 

 animals comes from plants. The plants which feed an animal, 

 and which, on decay, would have turned into carbonic acid, be- 

 come changed into carbonic acid in the course of the growth of 

 the animal, so that the whole amount of carbonic acid which 

 the animal makes, is only what the plants would have made if 

 left to natural decay. Thus the higher kingdom of life is intro- 

 duced and sustained, and yet the balance remains undisturbed. 

 The system is perfect. 



5. Again, one part of the animal kingdom, through eve ^ 



sonum and maggot, to the lion and man. Some take wh 

 already dead or decomposing ; others kill and eat. On this sub- 

 ject we observe : 



(1.) Death is in the system of nature— death from earthquake, 

 lightning, and all moving forces, as well as by natural decay; 

 and the creation of carnivorous animals was hence in harmony 

 with the system. 



(2.) Various noxious animals are held in check by the carniv- 

 orous species. 



(3.) By means of flesh-eaters, the diversity of animal species 

 subsisting on a given amount of vegetation is vastly increased, 

 and a wider expansion is given to the animal kingdom. 



(4.) Putrefaction of the dead is prevented by a multitude ot 

 scavengers, who at the same time turn the flesh into food for 

 the vegetable kingdom ; and thus plants feed animals, and ani- 

 mals feed plants,— one of nature's circles again. 



The last two principles mentioned are of profound importance. 

 The vegetable kingdom is a provision for the storing away or 

 magazining of force for the animal kingdom. This force is ac- 

 quired through the sun's influence or forces acting on the pl^rit. 

 and so promoting growth ; mineral matter is thereby carried V'l' 

 to a higher grade of composition, that of starch, vegetable ; 

 and sugar, and this is a state of concentrated or accuuv 

 force. To this stored force animals go, in order to carry for 

 their development ; and moreover, the grade of composition t 

 '^""T still higher, to muscle and nerve, (which contain nitro^cx. 



