ON LIFE AND ORGANIZATION. 
83 
mate, is more particularly seen in our domesticated animals. Con- 
trast, for instance, the animated countenance and the beautiful pro- 
portions of the Arab horse with the sluggish inanimate features of 
the Flemish breed ; the swift and stately Barb with the shaggy- 
haired indigenous pony, found on the moors of Devon and Corn- 
wall ; or the huge London dray-horses with the small diminutive 
animals of Thibet and Ceylon. This last comparison is, perhaps, 
the most remarkable instance of variety in the same species that 
occurs throughout the whole terrestrial creation. From these few 
examples it will appear very evident that the variety of organiza- 
tion corresponds to the variety of climate. I could multiply these 
examples, but it cannot be necessary. We observe the same 
effect produced among vegetables : their organization is remarkably 
adapted to the variety of climate ; and by this adaptation the globe 
is clothed with vegetables and peopled with animals from pole to 
pole. 
We have now arrived at three characters which distinguish a 
living being : — 
1. The power of resisting, within a certain range, the ordinary 
operations of physical agents. 
2. The power of converting matter of different qualities into its 
own proper substance. 
3. The power of arranging the substance thus formed in a re- 
gular determinate manner, denominated structure. 
There are two additional phenomena, which are equally distinc- 
tive of it : these relate to its origin and its termination. 
4. It is a general law , that living beings derive their origin 
from pre-existing living beings — it is the vital motion in the parent 
stock that communicates to the offspring its vital impulse ; — it is 
life that gives origin to life. 
From what has been already stated, it may appear scarcely 
requisite to enlarge further on this subject ; nevertheless, as con- 
trary opinions have been and still are entertained, it may be worth 
while to allude to them, and for the purpose I cannot do better 
than give the singular opinions of Lamarck, — “ that the various 
species of -animals and plants, which are now found existing, were 
not original species, hut the effect of considerable alteration in the 
local circumstances in which each are found to exist. Thus, a 
change of external circumstances may cause one organ to become 
entirely obsolete, and a new one to be developed, such as never 
before belonged to the species. For instance, otters, beavers, wa- 
ter-fowl, turtles, and frogs, were not made web-footed in order that 
they might swim, but their wants having attracted them to the 
water, in search of prey, they stretched out the toes of their feet 
to strike the water, and move more rapidly along the surface. By 
