66 ZOOPHYTES. 



§ 6. Triticella flava. — Plate XIX. Fig. 7. — In the course of 

 many years, occasional opportunities have afforded the inspection of a 

 number of zoophytes, but some of them so imperfect, others so transiently, 

 or their occurrence has been so rare and accidental, as to restrain any con- 

 fidence in conjectures, either regarding their ultimate form, or their per- 

 manent habits. I could quote a multitude of examples, though, I fear, 

 they would be little to the edification of the reader ; nor have my per- 

 plexities been relieved by the works of those learned authors coming with- 

 in my reach. 



The only method whereby naturalists can preserve each other from a 

 similar dilemma, or can aid reciprocal researches, is to multiply accurate 

 delineations of the subjects which they find in their research. It matters 

 not though many superfluities should be among them ; as from that, science 

 will suffer nothing. 



Whether any compound zoophyte, that is, the organic combined with 

 an inorganic part, or with a cell, exists in our Scotish waters, as restricted 

 to a single hydra, I cannot pretend to affirm ; because, in as far as my ex- 

 perience extends, this peculiarity belongs only to those in the earliest 

 stages, that is, while the product to which it belongs is immature. The 

 latter exhibit more or less numerous societies, when their history can be 

 followed, all sustained as the flourish of plants or otherwise. 



But it is not necessary that animals thus growing in the semblance of 

 plants, should be rooted on inanimate substances, for the quiescent habits 

 of various creatures afford as sure and undisturbed a foundation upon them. 

 Colonies of zoophytes, and the most luxuriant vegetation, alike invest and 

 overspread the surface. Many curious and interesting specimens of living 

 creatures, thus bearing a load of parasites, may be obtained. Such are 

 implanted on the languid and inactive Crustacea and testacea, scarcely 

 ever quitting the cavities of the rocks or the pools on their surface. I 

 have seen one of the former wholly covered by a profusion of the Sertu- 

 laria, which even invested the limbs. 



The skin of the ascidia, which is an animal affixed immoveably to the 

 same spot, from its origin, admits the reception of similar elements, afford- 

 ing a nidus for development from the origin to maturity. 



