COMPENDIUM. 267 



Though the life of many may be transient, and the existence of one 

 generation only preparatory for that of posterity, thus fulfilling that para- 

 mount law of Nature, which derives one living being from another, ex- 

 amples are not wanting of extraordinary longevity. 



The best means of preserving all for study, is avoiding their exposure 

 to extremes of temperature, obscuring the light that falls on them, copi- 

 ously feeding those whose sustenance is known, and keeping the whole in 

 capacious vessels, very frequently replenished. 



Zoophytes are a peculiar race of animal productions, participating in 

 many respects of the properties distinguishing the higher tribes of the 

 creation, intermixed with some analogies characterizing the vegetable 

 world, while manifesting others found nowhere but among themselves. 



2. Retaining these remarks in remembrance, as general principles, it 

 may not be unprofitable to illustrate several chief elements of animal 

 physiology by a few examples of the form, nutrition, and propagation of 

 zoophytes, from practical observation, as an auxiliary to the naturalist. 



In doing so, the entire race must be viewed as constituting two classes, 

 without reference to the subdivisions by preceding naturalists above 

 quoted ; first, those entirely carnose, being free of other combinations, and 

 somewhat resembling the substance of the higher animals ; second, those 

 whose carnose part is combined with coriaceous, ligneous, or calcareous 

 matter, in different quantity and proportion. 



Various other ingredients are known, which have been separated by 

 chemical analysis, though we do not readily discover how they are gene- 

 rated and incorporated together, or moulded into form. 



We must still preserve a certain latitude of expression, however re- 

 luctantly, regarding this subject, from inability to define, in ordinary terms, 

 the precise manner wherein zoophytes, their parts and accessories, are 

 compounded. 



(1.) Zoophytes are in a simple, naked, independent state, as the 

 Hydra proper of the fresh-waters, and the Actinia dwelling in the sea, — 

 the former an animal of small dimensions, the latter often exceeding it 

 many thousand times in size. 



