SERTULAR1AN ZOOPHYTES. 121 



when, in full health and vigour,, they unfold before 

 us, as they flourish luxuriantly in their native element, 

 their wondrous attributes, and teach us how objects, 

 apparently so insignificant, may surpass our highest 

 imaginings. 



It is not however upon the beach that the SERTU- 

 LARIAN ZOOPHYTES (for by that name we must now 

 introduce these exquisite productions of the ocean to 

 the non-scientific) are to be obtained, if we wish to 

 observe them in a living state : they must be sought 

 for in their native haunts, in some deep pool, for in- 

 stance, when the tide is out, wherein they will be 

 found growing on shells or stones. They must be 

 handled tenderly, and cautiously brought home, to- 

 gether with the shell or stone to which they are 

 attached, and carefully located in their new abode, 

 where, after a little time, they will begin to manifest 

 their real nature, and reveal the countless polyps, 

 which, lodged in appropriate cells, are the inhabitants 

 of every branch. 



Truly it is a glorious spectacle to watch one of 

 these corallines when in full life and activity, and 

 astounding to reflect upon the scene thus exhibited, 

 to estimate the numbers of the little busy polyps that 

 are there so silently employed, so actively engaged, 

 so busily and yet so blindly cooperating in the con- 

 struction and support of their numerous colony ! 



Each plume, says Mr. Lister, in reference to a 

 specimen of one of these zoophytes (the Plumularia 

 cristata), might comprise from 400 to 500 polyps, 

 and a specimen of no unusual size before me has 

 twelve plumes, with certainly not fewer cells on each 



G 



