CHAP. III.] COMPOSITION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS. 27 



the amniotic cells, tke epithelial cells, the cartilages, &o., of 

 the vertebrates.! 



For a long time cellulose was considered a substance exclusively- 

 vegetal ; but after a while, under the name of chitink, or tunicin^, 

 it was found in the tegumentary envelope of the tunicates, in 

 the exterior skeleton of the anthropods, and so on ; and M. Ber- 

 thelot has succeeded in transforming into sugar this tunicinfe, 

 this animal cellulose, for ebullition and acids metamorphose 

 it into glycose.2 ^^^ _ 



Even chlorophyll, that vegetal substance Dy^ excellence, has 

 been found in certain rudimentary animals. 



Therefore, once more we declare that there is no radical 

 difference, no chasm between the two living kingdoms, from 

 the poiat of view of the composition and formation of the 

 organic substances. In this respect there is no reason why 

 the two kingdoms should not be included under the denomina- 

 tion of Organic Empire, as Blainville proposed. 



Note. — Both as a substantive and as an adjective, vegetal is a good old 

 English word which is often for obvious reasons preferable to- vegetable or 

 plant. — Translator, 



1 J. Gasarrat, PMnom^jies Physiques de'la Vie, p. 196. 

 ^ J. Gasarrat, loc. cit. 



