CLASSIFICATIONS OF ZOOPHYTES. 59 



Ramosa, niida, ^ewtoCM^t* manifestis, . Sertularia. 



Hamosu, incrustata, tent, inconspicuis, . Gorgonia. 



*** Fungosa. 



()ssiculum polypiferiim, . . Pennatula. 



Suberosa, polypis stellatis, . . Alcyonium. 



Stuposa, oscnlis hiantibus, . . Spongia. 



Osculis atomiferis, . . . Clavaria.* 



The last genus is a sort of mushroom \\hich Muller was led 

 to arrange among zoophytes from having witnessed the appa- 

 rent spontaneous movements of its sporules ; but no one has fol- 

 lowed him in this, ahhough, it may be remarked, that some re- 

 cent authors have no better reasons for their proposal to re- 

 move a large proportion of the aquatic algse to the animal king- 

 dom. 



Blumenbach adopted the Linnsean class Vermes, and he also 

 retained the Actiniae in the order MoUusca, but the proper zoo- 

 phytes were differently arranged, and the alteration was unques- 

 tionably for the worse. The " polypes and other zoophytes 

 inhabitinof coral branches and similar structures" formed the or- 

 der Coralliu ; and his Zoophijta included only the " naked 

 plant-like animals without any habitations ; also the animalculse 

 of infusions!" The genera were the same, or nearly the same, 

 as the Linnoean, and followed one another apparently as their 

 names had risen in random series to his memory.^ 



About the beginning of the present century Cuvier first of all 

 pointed out the advantages of having our systematical arrange- 

 ments in harmony with anatomical structure, — of making the 

 one an index to the other, — of classifying animals not according 

 to one or two external characters which might really have little 

 or no influence upon their anatomy and habits, but according to 

 their agreement in those great systems by which the life, growth, 

 and propagation of creatures are upheld and carried on. When, 

 however, he began to arrange the animal kingdom according- 

 ly, the knowledge of the organization of Zoophytes was too im- 

 perfect to permit him to follow out his principles in this depart- 



* Zoologise Danicse Prodromus, p. xxxi. Havn. 1776. 



t Elements of Natural History, p. 269 and 274. Loud. 1825. 



