2 NATURAL HISTORY OP 



conspicuous and attractive anemones to minute forms 

 which are often quite invisible as individuals without 

 the aid of the microscope. The species found in our 

 own country, unlike their relatives, the corals of 

 tropical seas, are not important factors of islands or 

 continents, but, from their extreme variety and beauty 

 and from their curious life-histories, they are objects 

 of interest to the scientific observer, no less than their 

 moi-e useful congeners. 



The history of the investigations which have from 

 time to time been made into the various classes of 

 Zoophytes, forms a very interesting narrative, showing 

 the strength of prejudice, even amongst scientific men, 

 who, of all others, should be open to receive truth, 

 however unexpected or unpalatable, and illustrating 

 also the ultimate triumph of patient and careful 

 observation. 



The study of Zoophytology, depending, as it does, 

 so largely upon microscopical observations, has natu- 

 rally been more active and accurate within the last 

 century since the microscope began to be generally 

 used. Prior to that time, it is not at all surprising 

 that naturalists, whose observations must of necessity 

 have been limited, considered Zoophytes as either 

 vegetables or minerals. When the dendritic forms 

 sometimes assumed by crystals are borne in mind, the 

 idea that the more minute of the Zoophytes were 

 mineral crystals does not seem so absurd as might at 

 first appear ; and the vegetable theory is not without 

 grounds for justification, when the limited means of 

 observation of its supporters are taken into account. 



There seems to be no doubt that until the year 

 1599 no naturalist had ever been rash enough or bold 



