CLASSIFICATION. 65 
without a vascular or separate respiratory or nervous system. 
The alimentary canal is very variable, but the aperture to it 
is always superior, circular, edentulous, and surrounded by 
tubular, or more commonly, by filiform tentacula. Many 
are asexual, and it is doubtful whether any species has dis- 
tinct sexes. The individuals (polypes) of a few families are 
separate, and perfect in themselves, but the great majority 
of zoophytes are compound animals, viz., each zoophyte 
consists of an indefinite number of individuals or polypes 
organically connected, and placed in calcareous, horny, or 
membranous cases or cells, forming, by their aggregation, 
_ corals or plant-like polypidoms.” 
There is also a tribe of beautiful little creatures some- 
times called ciliated polypes, which I wish, in passing, 
briefly to notice ; for though they do not strictly fall within 
our province, we gladly recognize them as relatives, not 
very far removed from our rightly accredited zoophytes, 
which all rejoice in being furnished with tentacula. As my 
object is to inspire my young friends with the love of na- 
ture, and with the love of Him who, while he gives to 
nature so many charms, should be much more endeared to 
us as the God of grace, I am not unwilling, at any time, to 
step aside from the strictly systematic path, to ponder for a 
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