(iENERAL REMARKS. 



If they require any testimonial to recommend 

 them to lovers of nature, it will be sufficient 

 to say that they are very closely allied to the 

 sea-anemones and the polyps, animals which 

 form those exquisite structures the Corals. 



Hydroids allied to the Sponges 

 and Corals. In organization, the Hydroid 

 animals (or polypites) are a step below these; 

 but, on the other hand, they have as 

 neighbours below them, though in a separate 

 order, the anomalous group of animals, the 



Sponges. 



'^Zoophytes," so named by Linnaeus. 



The group with which we are dealing, in 

 common with others of like form and habit, 

 was styled by Linnaeus " Zoophytes," since, 

 in consequence of the peculiarity they evince 

 of forming tree-like growths and of the 

 resemblance of the animals themselves to 

 flowers, he regarded them as combining the 

 natures of both plants and animals. 



The cause and nature of these structures 

 will be found a most interesting study. The 

 polypites themselves can hardly be excelled 

 in chaste beauty, being usually of a crystalline 

 transparency sometimes picked out with 



