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ZOOPHYTOLOGY. 



Under the above not very scientific term, it is our intention 

 to devote in each number of the Journal one, two, or more 

 plates, as occasion may require, illustrative of new forms 

 belonging to the various classes of animals included under the 

 vague though popularly well understood term of Zoophytes ; 

 or, more particularly, of those among them which from their 

 size are necessarily subjects of microscopic research. These 

 are principally the Hydrozoa or Anthozoa hydroida of Dr. 

 Johnston. The Asteroid and Helianthoid divisions, scarcely 

 requiring the microscope for their determination, are not in- 

 cluded in our design. 



In this department of the Journal we shall give — 1. Figures 

 and descriptions of new or hitherto undescribed species from 

 any part of the world, as they may come under our observa- 

 tion or be furnished to us by others. We should therefore be 

 obliged to those who take an interest in this branch of Zoology 

 to aid us by the communication of such observations, with 

 respect to new forms, as they may be desirous of presenting 

 to the world. 2. Observations on the anatomy and physiology, 

 &c., of the creatures comprised in the scope of our design, 

 illustrated or not. And 3. Notices of new species or original 

 observations published elsewhere. 



As one very important, if not the most important, object of 

 this undertaking is to assist in the arriving ultimately at some 

 correct notions with respect to the geographical distribution of 

 these creatures — a problem apparently of the most curious 

 kind ; it is highly desirable that any localities should be 

 assigned only upon good authority, and, if possible, accom- 

 panied with particulars as to the depth, bottom, and nature of 

 the surface upon which the polypidom or polyzoary grows. 

 Specimens for the purpose of representation, or drawings, will 

 be duly preserved and returned. 



In the present number we commence with an enumeration 

 of Zoophytes of the two classes of animals above mentioned, 

 collected in the Arctic seas. The majority were brought 

 home by Dr. Sutherland, surgeon to H. M. S. Sophia ; others 

 by Sir E. Belcher, in what may perhaps be the last of Arctic 

 voyages ; and for two specimens we are indebted to our friend, 

 Mr. C. Peach, whose well-known accuracy is a sufficient 

 guarantee for the correctness of the habitat. 



Even in this limited though interesting collection, it will 

 be seen that several new and remarkable forms are contained, 



