18 



A MANUAL 



§ Polyps, or True Zoophytes, are divided into 



Hydeatorms. 



Polyps single and as- 

 sociated ; stomach with- 

 out a distinct wall; 

 reproduction external ; 

 tentacles variable in 

 number. 



e. g. Hydra, Sertu- 

 laria, &c. 



Asteroids. 

 Pol^'ps associated, sup- 

 ported in a fleshy mass, 

 or polj^pidom, stomach 

 vdih distinct walls ; ten- 

 tacles in definite num- 

 ber, 6 — 8 ; reproduc- 

 tion internal. 



e. g. Sea-fan, Dead- 

 men's fingers, Ked coral, 

 &c. 



I 

 Helianthoids. 



Polyps single or con- 

 nected only by a creep- 

 ing stem, free or at- 

 tached ; softorenci-usted 

 with lime ; stomach free, 

 number of tentacles in- 

 definite ; reproduction 

 internal. 



e. g. Sea -anemones, 

 lamelliform corals, as 

 Madrepores, kc. 



Now, if you will begin with the few words in the 

 last column, and thence carry your eye back, by 

 means of the directing marks, to the columns headed 

 respectively " Polyps," " Kadiates," "Animal King- 

 dom," *' Organized Bodies," you will arrive at an 

 answer to our question — 



" What is a Sea- Anemone ? " 



and I think the answer cannot be shortened, without 

 running a great risk of vagueness and inaccuracy. 



The intelligent reader may say, This is all pretty 

 clear ; but, in the first place, how am I to know an 

 anemone from a coral or any other sunflower-shaped 

 animal ? and next, Avhy do you use such hard Latin 

 and Greek words, and break your promise of ex- 

 plaining your meaning in English ? 



