CLASSIFICATIONS OF ZOOPHYTES. 57 



Tjenia Stirps libera, moniliformis, articiilata. 

 VoLVox Stir-ps libera, globosa, sobole nidulante." * 



The precision of the definitions in this arrangement, and the 

 manner in which they are contrasted, is highly characteristic of 

 its author, but into many of the genera species are introduced, 

 which are not conformable to the definitions ; and some of these, 

 Pennatula and Hydra, for example, are grossly erroneous. The 

 theoretical character of the second order, and of some of its ge- 

 nera, might also be objected to in a matter-of-fact work ; but it 

 is an easy task for the student of the present sera to point out 

 defects in the method of the master who had to plan the way, 

 and who succeeded in making it level and easy to his followers. 



Pallas, in 1766, embraced the Lithophyta and Zoophyta in 

 one order, for which he adopted the latter denomination, for he 

 very properly believed that the Linnsean distinctions served on- 

 ly to " divide the things that are in nature join'd." He sepa- 

 rated some spurious species of Hydra and formed them into the 

 genus BrachioriKS, which, though a good genus, is a duubtful 

 member of the order of zoophytes. His genus Antipathes, se- 

 vered from Gorgonia, is well defined ; and m\h equal propriety 

 he restored the celliferous corallines of Ellis, which Linnaeus 

 had mixed with the Sertularia, to a separate generic rank — Cel- 

 lularia. The claims of Taenia, Volvox, and Corallina to a place 

 amongst zoophytes were disallowed, although he has described 

 the species in an appendix, for he knew that Taenia properly 

 belonged to the intestinal worms, and Volvox to the infusorial 

 animalcules ; and he believed that Corallina was altogether of a 

 vegetable nature. 



In the twelfth edition of the " Systema," published in 1767, 

 Linnaeus made no material improvements on his first system, but 

 the errors relative to the Hydra and Pennatula are corrected, 

 and the definitions in general are abridged and rendered less 

 theoretical. To the Lithophyta he added the genus Cellepora — 

 " corallium cellulis cavis ;" — and he followed Ellis and Pallas in 

 now introducing the Sponges into his second order. In this we 

 also find, for the first time, the genus Vorticella, which is near- 

 ly synonymous with the Brachionus of Pallas ; the Flustra, which 



* Syst. Nat. p. 646. Halte Magdeburg. 1760, 



