466 



RADIATA: POLYPI. 



the} 7 experienced no harm, but after a few days devoured 

 their food as if nothing had happened ! 



SECTION IY. 



THE CLASS OF POLYPI OR POLYPS. 



SUB-SECTION I. 



THE POLYPI CONSIDERED AS A CLASS. 



OF all the animals of the ocean, probably none have a 

 more interesting history than the Polyps the " Flowers 

 of the Sea ; " and they and their products have long en- 

 gaged the attention of the most cultivated minds. 



Theophrastus, Pliny, Cuvier, Milne-Edwards, Darwin, 

 Dana, and Agassiz, are some of the illustrious names 

 which we find in connection with the written history of 

 these flower-like forms which constitute the lowest class 

 of the Radiata. 



FIG. 702. 



FIG. 703. 



A Polyp Sea-anemone, Bunodes stella, Verrill. 



Coral Polyps, Ccenopsammia ni- 

 grescens, Milne-Edwards, 



