INTRODUCTION. 



Notwithstanding the information of celebrated 

 voyagers and philosophers, much yet remains un- 

 known of those Polypidoms which people the vast 

 empire of the deep ; a very small number of their 

 polypi have been observed, and entire orders still 

 exist, whose animals have not to this moment been 

 discovered : no light has been thrown on their orga- 

 nization, their growth, or their continuance ; all yet 

 remains in obscurity respecting the physiology of this 

 singular class of organization; but that they are 

 wholly animal, remains no longer a doubt, and the 

 term Zoophyte, though still used, becomes, from its 

 signification of animal plant, not strictly applicable. 



The Polypidoms present no character so decided, 

 as serving for habitation, and forming the most solid 



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