ZOOPHYTA BRITANNICA. 



ORDER III. 

 Z. HELIANTHOIDA. 



Charactku. 

 Polypes separate or compound, free or attached, Jlosculous ; the 

 body regular tvith a circular periphery, contractile, internally 

 divided into numerous spaces by perpendicular muscular septa : 

 mouth superior and central, encircled ivith one or more series 

 of tubular tentacula : stomach membranous : anus : ovaries 

 and cceca placed in the septa between the stomach and skin. 



Observations. 

 I borrow the name of this order from Latreille, * but give to 

 it a wider appUcation than it has in the classification of that il- 

 lustrious naturalist, that it may embrace the madrepores and 

 starred stones, which the observations of Le Sueur, confirmed 

 as they have been by subsequent voyagers, demonstrate to be 

 the products of zoophytes similar, in all essential points, to the 

 naked Actiniae. The order thus corresponds to the class 

 " Zoantha" of De Blainville, — a name which has the claim of 

 priority, and might have been adopted by me, had not its con- 

 junction with zoophyta appeared inappropriate, as involving a 

 tautology. The term preferred expresses the resemblance which 

 the animals it designates have to the compound or syngenesious 

 flowers, — a resemblance which has been very generally re- 

 marked, and the source of the name — Sea Anemonies — by which 

 the typical species are known in this country. When speaking 

 of these Ellis says, — " their tentacles, being disposed in regu- 

 lar circles, and tinged with a variety of bright lively colours, 

 very nearly represent the beautiful petals of some of our most 



* Fam. du Rcgiic Animal, p. 535. 



