20 
animals bite them, and thus they lose their natural 
forms. 
41. Even in the meanest water plants symmetry is 
still found. The Thorea, which is closely related to 
a sea-weed, although not strictly one, may be perhaps 
fished up out of the Thames. In that plant, each 
little branch is furnished with arms exactly ordered, 
those on one side answering to others on the op¬ 
posite side. From its original point of growth it 
describes a regular figure whilst floating undisturbed, 
although the accidents to which such plants are 
subject soon destroy all appearance of equipoise and 
symmetry. And so it is with the real sea-weeds and 
all the plants akin to them. From an original centre 
arms are regularly formed, so that if one leg of a 
pair of compasses were placed upon that centre, the 
ends of the arms would all be struck with the op¬ 
posite leg. In general this is not observed because 
of the mutilation they undergo when thrown upon 
the coast; and by reason of other causes which de¬ 
stroy their natural symmetry. But the truth becomes 
evident when sought with sufficient care. 
42. Thus we see that a system of equipoise, to be 
regarded as the manifestation of a centrifugal vital 
force, exerted in every direction equally, is disco¬ 
verable throughout the vegetable kingdom in all its 
parts. That apparent exceptions to it occur, is not 
to be denied, but they are merely apparent, as can 
be easily demonstrated. 
43. If there be any real exception to this universal 
symmetry, it is in the colours of plants. I under¬ 
stand that Mr. Buskin declares colour and form to 
have no connection. In the case of animals I do not 
question the assertion. It is for zoologists to say 
