PREFACE. 



The object of this book is to furnish a handy and at 

 the same time reliable manual of the British Zoophytes. 

 I am aware that, in using the terra " Zoophytes " to 

 cover so extensive a field as that comprised in this 

 book, I lay myself open to some degree of criticism, 

 as many writers confine the term to the Hydroida ; but 

 from a popular point of view the Polyzoa are as much 

 plant-like in appearance as the Hydroids ; and as the 

 word '' Zoophytes " has now no real scientific position, 

 I feel justified in retaining it as a convenient expression, 

 and in applying it in the manner defined in the intro- 

 ductory chapter. 



My intention in issuing this work is to do for the 

 present generation of students of natural history what 

 the Rev. Dr. Landsborough did for a former in his 

 " Popular History -j" and, as modern science requires 

 more attention to be paid to minute and histological 

 details than formerly, I have endeavoured not only to 

 make the work a complete guide to all known British 

 species, but also, so far as possible consistently with 

 its character, to give an accurate resume of the present 

 knowledge of the microscopic structure of the various 

 organisms described. I am necessarily indebted to the 

 large and valuable works of the Rev. Mr. Hincks, 

 Prof. Allman, Mr. Busk, the Rev. P. H. Gosse, and 



