XIV 
INTRODUCTION. 
organical, living, and felf-moving bodies, for 
fee here, in this plant, motion and volition. 
What power or faculty is it, that direfts the cirri 
of the Cucurbita, Momordica, Vitis, and other 
climbers, towards the twigs .of flirubs, trees, and 
other friendly fupport ? we fee them invariably lean- 
ing, extending, and like the fingers of the human 
hand, reaching to catch hold of what is neareft, 
juft as if they had eyes to fee with ; and when their 
hold is fixed, to .coil the tendril in a fpiral form, 
by which artifice it becomes more elaftic and effec- 
tual, than if it had remained in a direct line, for 
every revolution of the coil adds a portion of 
ftrength ; and thus collected, they are enabled to 
dilate and contract as occafion or neceffity requires, 
and thus by yielding to, and humouring the motion 
of the limbs and twigs, or other fupport on which 
they depend, are not fo liable to be torn off by 
fudden blafts of wind or other affaults: is it fenfe or 
inftinff that influences their actions ? it muft be 
fome impulfe , or does the hand of the Almighty 
act and perform this work in our fight ? 
The vital principle or efficient caufe of motion 
and action, in the animal and vegetable * fyftem, 
perhaps, may be more ftmilar than we generally ap- 
prehend. Where is the effential difference between 
the feed of 'peas, peaches, and other tribes of 
plants and trees, and the eggs of oviparous ani- 
mals, as of birds, fnakes, or butterflies, fpawn of 
fifh, &c. ? Let us begin at the fource of terreftrial 
exiftence. Are not the feeds of vegetables, and the 
eggs of oviparous animals fecundated, or influenced 
with the vivific principle of life, through the approxi- 
mation and intimacy of the Texes ? and immediately 
after the eggs and feeds are hatched, does not the 
^ Vid. SponfrJia plantarum, Amcen. Acad 1 . n. 12. Linn. 
young 
