The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-09 00:00:00

Interdependence of Plants and Aniraalli'

As plants and animals are alike dependent on el-
ternal conditions, so both are, to a certain extent:
dependent on one another. Both, for example,
.r"
dependent oa the atmosphere, yet the oxygen wilt
the plant exhales is inhaled by the animal, and t-a-
carbonic acid exhaled by the animal is absorbed it
assimilated by the plant. The plant, rooted in
soil and casting abroad its leaves and branches in t;
atmosphere, though seemingly deriving the rtie;
elements of its growth from inorganic sourceetis,
nevertheless stimulated into life and exuberance 'Jo
the presence of organic decay, and many of till,
lower fungus-growths are found only where eee.„
decomposing matter is present. Herbiverous apt
0
mals, as is well known, subsist directly upon 01°4:
while the carniverous prey upon the plant-feede',
and are thus also ultimately dependent on the lieg, ee
table world for their subsistence. Wherever veg.fa
table life is varied and luxuriant, there animal .11120
is marked by a corresponding variety; hence
specific exuberance of the tropics compared with
that of the colder latitudes. By the extirpet""A
of certain plants, certain mammals, birds, ee:
insects may be removed from a distfici:
while, on the introduction of some new exotic, 10
mals hither unknown in that locality usually
into
their appearance. The law of circulation and
dependence is complete, and no portion of the Circle
could could be removed without a corresponding cbs.or
in the characters of the vegetable and anima I°es
dome. Again, though most plants have the inbe,roa
power of dispersing their own seeds, and are elde
in this by winds and water-currents, yet niallair
pend upon birds and mammals for their wider ir
persion and increase, just as many depend upono
sects for the fertilisation of their dowers. 000
wider dispersion creates a new source of subsists
for the animals that feed upon them, and tbuse
increased area of the one supplies a wider rang
the other. Further, as some animals are fitted
their organisation for an arboreal existence' s
ol
for life on the grassy plain, and others 0r to
shrubby thicket, the destruction of the tree.'l,oll
planting of the plain, or the clearing of the 0100
would necessarily involve the destruction of iv"
special organisations. Still further, as solve cti
tures are specially fitted to live on fruits, o°o 0000
leaves, and others on roots, the disappearance e`l d
specific supplies would necessarily be followe
the annihilation of the consumers. It is i.3000#
manner that plants and animals become Wets?
dent portions of one great vital plan, and the.ool'
graphers, aware of these relations, can more !op;
ligibly depict the aspects of nature by 0801004
every fauna with its own appropriate and dietiesitili
flora. P age's " Introductory Text-Book, to FM
Geography."

UY

THE ST. GILES'S MURDER.--The inquest; 004
the supposed St. Giles's murderer was 110°,,:re:
this morning until a late hour this afternoon, for t'" tor,
pose of allowing some medical gentlemen to 009°,00i
experiment for the purpose of restoring the natural c°oooe4
the body from its present blackened appearance'Pro 0.
by decomposition, in order that the features nmayh
easily recognised.
,r Oa!:
TRIAL TRIP OF A SCREW STEAMER.----be,sr
raid, 35, screw, Capt. A. Cumming, made slit,ll,
rimental trial with a four-bladed screw yesterdal t'f.dbor;
at Spithead. The trial was conducted by rapt.
of the steam reserve, She made six runs, the resultl-
lC
mean speed of about 12 knots. This trial was tn""-arpol
tne same conditions as former trials of a like oad
only on former trials the screws have been en 'VA-
two-bladed. a°l3°
MURDER IN LlVERPOOL.—Yesterday aller:01
shocking murder was perpetrated in Livia:P-000?
which a woman was again the victim- .A• taliatt'fls
athletic young man, a sailor, who lodged in Broo0;00 /14
attacked the landlady of the boarding-house in
nod, it°A
feu
ludg(d, strikingly her savagely with a billet of sytital -
repeating his blows until the object of his Iftdrail,rilts
ceased to live. He also attacked and seriouslY
other women who attempted to aid the laudit'o into
ruffian
was secured by the police, and on being tsi
icare
custody it is said he was sober ; but, whether thAto ~,,,
or not, he appears to have been very savage, stil
jie
his intention was to have killed all the three. 00
APOTHECARIES' HALL.—The f011oW:14 0,00;
names of the gentlemen who passed their ed reoeiltoi
tion in the science and practice of medicine, ati,,.....5604,t.
certificates to practice, on Thursday, Ait'Y IdojeD ver
Woodman, Finchley-road, St. John's-woott; Cnt°„,ol
gory, Birmingham; George Wyatt Sharp, Orcie7 9301"-ster
land-street; Wm. Allin Thompson, o•74t.°r John eft
Pilkirgton, Enfield, Accrington, Luucashire; as /yaw-
ner Ferris, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts; 1:11°111 oral
Halifax.
__roe geri 00
THE LISBURN ELECTION PETITION. 000 ale
eliction committee have reported that this
(I)..ed thAtod
improperly withdrawn, and have renown:le°
and ail°
petitioners be remitted to their original rights
to prosecute the petition.
A•reD 01113-1,
SUICIDE OF MR. MARTIN RlCll'""eid at
—Yesterday evening an inquest was llicenbbitA6o4
mington on the body of Mr. Martin Richard. by 11°13t de:
committed suicide early the same raorn,hg'sred tlot
himself in a closet in his bed-room. It ~,°P„Pret of li'ls,,Tee
ceased had been a judge a the Supreme ‘l°-„nasecltlo es'
was compelled to retire in December last, 01 :_bieoD
severe ill-health, Since then he • has been. t.Liales, 13:_tdict
treme mental depression, so much so that,:tutrand vsotal
considered of unsound mind,ilst
mthiailtdt,he deceased destroyed himself ll°