On the RehtiotuJiip BX%$(\ng [no. 1, new BBRifta, 



many only open their leaves or flowers to the sunshine, while others 

 the phmtiC iristes, the watchmen of the flower garden, only spread 

 abroad their beauties to the night. Other plants exhibit a certain 

 amount of irritability, or sensitive qualities, under mechanical or 

 chemical stimuli. The Drosera and DiotUBQ woo the unwary fly 

 to its destruction shutting it up in deadly folds, while the Mimosa 

 scnsi.iva and a few others will shrink from the most delicate 

 touch, and may be laid asleep, during any severe operation of the 

 gardener, under the influence of opium or Chloroform. If on 

 the other hand we assume as the characteristic of the animal, its 

 capability of changing its position, we still find similar properties 

 in the plant ; for vegetable organisms are in some instances capa- 

 ble of changing their position and performing other movements. 

 Thus the Zoospores of Cryptogamic plants are locomotive, and the 

 Desmodium ggrans is possessed with a restless activity, its lateral 

 leaflets dancing a perpetual measure to the music of the air. As 

 we compare then these indications of sensibility, and these locomo- 

 tive powers in the vegetable with the humbler endowments of such 

 an animal as the sponge, which lemains through life chained to one 

 little spot of rock, giving out no indications of sensibility, we must 

 at once be struck with the difficulties attending a true distinction, 

 and the intimate relation that exists between the two kingdoms in 

 question. True, we cannot instance the automatic performances of 

 the vegetable as identical with the eimilar endowments of animal 

 life, but still they indicate a sympathy, a harmony existing between 

 the two organizations, and show us how closely the great principles 

 of animal and vegetable life converge. Indeed, as they approach 

 the common centre, the little cell that is the habitation of both, it 

 is perhaps impossible to say, here begins animal and there vegetable 

 life* These, here in their infancy, are subtle essences far beyond 

 our conception, and the naturalist, as he gathers this new world to- 

 gether on the field of his microscope, can only judge and name, after 

 long and patient study of conformation and habits. 



Thus far we have dealt in generalities, let us now therefore exa- 



* This animal and vegetable affinity is very amusingly discussed at p. US of 

 the April No, of the Dublin University Magazine 1857.— Ed. 



