68 CLASSIFICATIONS OF ZOOPHYTES. 



an original classification of Zoophytes, and although no one, 

 from his previous studies and important discoveries relative to 

 their structure and functions, ever came better prepared for the 

 task, yet the system he framed is assuredly not superior to those 

 of his predecessors. The Actinise and Lucernaria were collocated 

 with the Radiata acalejjha or sea-jellies, and the Zoophyta divid- 

 ed into four orders as follow:* 



I. Carnosa. 

 Polypi connected with a fleshy substance. 

 Keeping this definition in view, who would have expected to find 

 Sponges and Corallines and Madrepores under this order ? and yet 

 they are there in defiance of the definition. The following is a sy- 

 nopsis of this order — 



I. Free ; marine ; moving by the contraction or expansion of the 

 Jleshy part ; form symmet7'ical ; axis of the body supported by a 



bone contained in a sac. 



Pennatula. 

 Virgularia. 



II. Fixed or stationary, 



A. Polypiferous matter covering a solid axis. 



a. Axis with stellular discs LAMELLiFERiE. 



b- Stellular discs terminal. 

 Sarcinula. 

 Lithostrotion. 

 Caryophyllea. 

 Turbinolia. 

 Cyclotites. 

 b b. Stellular discs aggregated. 

 Explanaria. 

 Astrea. 

 Porites. 

 Pocillopora. 

 a a. Axis destitute of cellular discs. 



b. Axis corneous and flexible ; polypiferous basis cre- 

 taceous ; the axis with spines, 

 c. Polypi developed. — GorgoniadjE. 

 Gorgonia. 

 Primnoa. 

 c c. Polypi not developed. — Corallinad^. 

 Jania. 



" History of British Animals, Edin. 1828. 8vo. 



