COMPENDIUM. 269 



feet, and the Alcyonium gelatinosum two. Among the pectinate race, the 

 Virgularia or Sea Rush equals the last. Numerous hydrae occupy the 

 thinnest calcareous or membranaceous stratum, their polyparium, scarcely 

 protruding the disc beyond the lip of the cell. 



With few exceptions, nearly the whole animals combined with the 

 inorganic portion, large or small, of this extensive Order, are very minute. 



Some of the Medusa; are, indeed, gigantic creatures, comparatively, 

 but I would purposely abstain from adverting to them, because I enter- 

 tain many doubts whether they may not be found misplaced if included 

 with the zoophytes properly so denominated. At the same time, their 

 immediate relation to an animal not rejected from the zoophytes, must 

 not be overlooked. 



Very few zoophytes are distinguished by lively colours. Perhaps 

 those of the Actinia; are the most conspicuous for intensity and variety. 

 In general a dingy hue predominates ; also different shades of green and 

 brown. Most of the Tubularise are red ; some of the calcareous white. 

 Yellow embellishes the whole or part of others, and this colour charac- 

 terizes a remarkable proportion of the ova or the gemmules of various 

 species. 



3. In viewing the nature of vegetable products, different important 

 functions are allotted to the different parts. 



The race with which we are now occupied, is denominated the Order 

 of Zoophytes, as if actually participating the nature of both the animal and 

 the vegetable kingdom, — an opinion which, as already signified, does not 

 rest on a sound foundation. Numerous points of resemblance appear 

 nevertheless, though not sufficient to carry their kindred farther. 



Root. — Zoophytes have no proper root to be compared to that of 

 plants ; or at most, remote analogies are presented by the means of fixture 

 to the places where they dwell. 



The root of vegetables generally dips into the earth, or it spreads over 

 surfaces which it cannot penetrate, descends into clefts, and obtains secu- 

 rity through numerous auxiliaries, bearing some proportional power below 

 to the stability required above. 



