A N I 
A N I 
led: the reft of the back is black. It has long 
wings covered with fliort feathers, fpotted at the be- 
ginning, like thofe of the back ; which are fucceed- 
ed by a row of half grey and half black ones ; (that 
is, on one fide the fliaft grey, on the other black:) 
the prime featliers being all black. The tail con- 
fuls of black and fhining feathers, tipped with grey. 
The legs and feet are of a dark yellow inclining to 
grey. The Anl\inga is remarkalDly cunning in it's 
method of catching filla ; for, after the manner of 
ferpents, firft drawing up it's neck, it darts forth 
it's bill on it's prey, and then ieizes it with it's 
claws. Wiilughby fays he has tailed the Anhinga, 
and that it's flefh is very little fuperior to that of 
the gull. 
ANI. The name of a Brazilian bird, fomewhat 
allied to. the parroquet kind, and very common in 
the woods. It is about the fize of a thrufh, and 
entirely black. 
ANIMAL. A being v^^hich, befides a vegetative 
and generative power, qualities common alfo to ve- 
getables, is farther endued with fenfation, and fpon- 
taneous locomotion. Among the infinite variety 
of productions which the earth offers to our notice. 
Animals are therefore certainly entitled to the firft 
rank; as well becaufe of the fi.ner formation of their 
parts, as their fuperior power. Compared with the 
vegetable world, which is fixed to one fpot, and 
obliged to wait for it's accidental fupplies of nou- 
rifhment, Animals bear diftinguifhed pre-eminence, 
and rife to the higheft rank in the fcale of created 
things. Far the greater part of Animals are capable 
of changing their fituations, and confequently of 
feeking that nourifhment which is mofl: agreeable 
to their ftate; while vegetables are unable to correft 
the difadvantagesof fituation, or to fhield themfelves 
from the dangers which eveiy objeft pofiefied of 
motion may bring upon them. Thofe few Animals 
which are fixed to one fpot, even in this feemingly 
helplefs fituation, are neverthelefs protefted from 
external injury by their fhelly covering, which they 
can clofe at pleafure, and thus defend themfelves 
from aflault. Every Animal, from the higheft to the 
loweft ranks, by ibme means or other natural to 
itfelf, finds fecurity and prote6lion from injury, by 
force, cunning, fvv^iftnefs, or courage ; but vegeta- 
bles are totally unprote6led,expofed to every aifail- 
ant, and patiently fubmiffive in every attack. This- 
diftinflion, indeed, forms the barrier between the 
Animal and vegetable tribes : an Animal is an or- 
ganized being, provided in fome meafure with wea- 
pons for it's own fecurity; a vegetable is confined to 
a fmgle fpot, and incapable of felf-defence. 
But though definitions are fcarcely necefiTary to 
enable the moft ignorant to diftinguilli a plant from 
an Animal, they both pofTefs fo many correfpond- 
ing properties, that the two kingdoms, as they are 
calledj feem blended together. Hence it is often 
difficult to determine where the Animal life com- 
mences, and the vegetative terminates. The fenfi- 
tive-plant, v/hich flirinks from the touch, feems to 
have as much perception as the frefh- water polypus, 
which is pofiefied of aftill flower locomotive power. 
However, the polypus not only lumts for it's food, 
as moil other Animals do, but it changes it's fitu- 
ation, and confequently has the faculty of retreat- 
ing from danger; while the fenfitive-plant can nei- 
ther quit it's place, nor receive it's nourifhment, 
after the Animal plan. 
i-T()wevcr, both claffes have many refemblances, 
by which they are raifed above the unorganized and 
inert maifes of nature ; both are endued with life 
and vigour, have their ftates of improvement and 
decay, are capable of reproducing their kinds, 
feem ail poireifed of fenfition in a fuperior or infe- 
rior degree, and have their refpeftive antipathies and 
inclinacions. As all Animals are alternately fup- 
porced by vegetables, fo vegetables are greatly pro- 
pagated by becoming a part of Animal food. Birds 
diftribute the feeds wherever they fly, and quadru- 
peds aflift to give them greater luxuriance. By thefe 
means the quantity of food, in a ftate of nature, is 
kept equal to the number of the confumers: and, 
that even the weakeft Animals may find a propor- 
tionable fupply for tJieir wants, Providence has ap- 
propriated different vegetables to different appe- 
tites. 
A.gain, if we compare vegetables and Animals, 
with refpeft to the places of their growth, we Ihall 
find them bearing a ftill ftron.n;er fimiiirude. The 
vegetables produced in a dry and funny foil are 
ftrongand vigorous, though not luxuriant; fo alfo 
are the Animals commion to fuch a climate. Thofe, 
on the contrary, which are the jo nt produ6lion of 
warmth and moifture, are luxuriant and tender; 
and the Animals, aflirnilating to the food on which 
they fubfift-, are much larger in fuch countries than 
in others. Thus, in the internal regions of South 
America and Africa, where the fun ufually fcorches 
all above, and inundations cover all below, every 
Animal, even theinfeft and the reptile tribes, grows 
to a prodigious fize: the earth-worm of America 
is often a yard long, and as thick as a common 
walking-cane; the boiguacu, the largeft of the fer- 
pent race, fometimes meafures forty feet in length ; 
the bats in thofe climes are as large as rabbits; the 
toads bigger than ducks; and the fpiders equal in 
fize to fparrows. On the contrary, in the frozen 
regions of the north, where vegetable nature is 
checked in it's growth, the few Anim.als which inha- 
bit thofe regions partake of the diminution; all the 
wild Animals, the bear excepted, are fmaller than 
in the more genial climes ; and fuch of the domef- 
tic as are carried thither, foon degenerate and dwin- 
dle away in fize. The very infecfts of the arctic re- 
gions are of the minute kinds; the bees and fpiders 
not being more than half as large as thofe of the 
torrid zone. 
The fimilitude, however, between vegetables 
and Animals, is nowhere more obvious than in thofe 
which belong to the ocean, where the nature of the 
one is admirably adapted to the necefTities of the 
other. The watery element, it is well known, pro- 
duces it's vegetable ftores in great abundance, and 
is plentifully ftocked with infefls which fubfift 
upon them. Over extenfive tra6ls of ocean, a weed 
is feen floating, covering the furface, and exhibit- 
ing the appearance of a green and extenfive mea- 
dow. On the lower fide of thefe fluftuating plants, 
millions of little Animals are found, which appear 
excellently calculated for fuch a mode of exiftence : 
for, as the plants on v/hich they liibfift lie over 
their heads, their feet are placed on their backs ; 
and, as land Animals have their legs below their 
bodies, thefe have them placed above. At land, 
alfo, A^nimals in general are farnifhed with eyes to ^ 
alnft them in procuring their food; but, at fea, al- - 
moft" all the reptile kinds ai-e deftitute of fight, 
which might only give them profpects of danger, 
without afiifting tliem to avoid it. 
Thus, throughout every part of creation, there is 
an obvious afiinity between the Animal and rite ve- 
getable kingdoms: in general, however, it may be 
obferved, that the more perfed races have the leaft 
fimilitude 
