286 
Mr. David Syme says:— 
“ If we admit that animals possess intelligence, we cannot logically 
deny the same attribute to vegetative organisms, as many of the 
higher orders of plants exhibit greater intelligence than many of 
the lower animals.”-—(The Modification of Organisms, p. 132.) 
Mr. Darwin, speaking of the sensitiveness of the root-tips 
of plants, says :— 
“ It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the tip of the radicle 
thus endowed, and having the power of directing the movements of 
the adjoining parts, acts like the brain of one of the lower animals ; 
the brain, being seated within the anterior end of the body, receiv 
ing impression from the sense-organs and directing the several 
movements.” 
Dr. J. E. Taylor appears to identify these habits of motion 
with the instinctive actions of animals. He says :— 
“ Instinct is now generally regarded as the experience of the race, 
as distinguished from that of the individual. The registration of 
experience may be in itself an intelligent rather than an automatic 
act. To speak of the ‘tendencies’ on the part of plants to assume 
a certain habit is merely to coin a word to disguise our ignorance 
of the process. A tendency for the plant to behave in a certain 
manner is merely a habit based upon the past experience of its 
ancestors, as to what has proved best for them as a species.”— 
The Sagacity and Morality of Plants, p. 4.) 
This view may be illustrated by instituting a comparison 
between animal instincts and vegetable habits. 
“ The principal instincts of animals have been grouped by natu 
ralists under three heads :—(1) Those dependent, immediately or 
remotely, upon incitations from the alimentary canal—eg., mode of 
seeking, capture, seizing, storing or swallowing of food. (2) Those 
dependent upon incitations from the generative organs—eg., pairing, 
nidification, oviposition, care of young. (3) Those dependent upon 
more general impressions, perhaps partly internal and partly external 
in origin (hybernation and migration).”—(Bastian. The Brain as 
an Organ of Mind. p. 223.) 
As a case of a vegetable movement akin to the instinctive 
catching of food on the part of the animal, we may take 
the well-known case of the Drosera or Sun-dew.