22 



INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



thus preserved. An American poet has referred to this with 

 equal beauty and accuracy, — 



" There, with a light and easy motion, 



The Fan-coral sweeps through the clear deep sea; 

 And the yellow and scarlet tufts of ocean 

 Are bending like corn on the upland lea." 



In another species (Isis hippuris) may be observed an 

 example of the varied but equally effective means by -which 

 the same security is attained. Here the stem is composed in 

 part of a horny and in part of a calcareous substance, arranged 

 in alternate joints, and thus uniting strength and flexibility. 

 When recently taken, the stem is covered with one continuous 

 living membrane, in which are the polype-cells. The common 

 Red Coral resembles the Isis, in having a living rind in which 

 the polypes find shelter {Fig. 11). Inside of this is found 

 the calcareous substance known as the Red Coral of the 

 Mediterranean. Its growth is slow, and its short, stunted 

 stems requh-e not, for their protection, the beautiful and 

 elTcctual contrivances exhibited in the Gorgonia and the Isis. 



Order III— HELIANTHOIDA. 



-" Seas have — 



As well as earth — vines, roses, nettles, melons, 

 Mushrooms, pinks, gilliflowers, and many millions 

 Of other plants, more rare, more strange, than these, 

 As very fishes, living in the seas." — Du Bai^tas. 



The name of the present order 

 denotes that the animals it in- 

 cludes bear a resemblance to such 

 flowers as the daisy, the marigold, 

 and others, which the botanist 

 terms "compound" {Fig. 12, 14). 

 The most common native species 

 are single, — with a fleshy body, 

 live only in the sea, and have the 

 mouth encu'cled with tubular 

 tentacnla. 



Fig. 12.— Sea-anbmonk. The common Sea- anemone, 



which is generally to be seen in the rock-pools round our 

 shores {Adinia mesembri/anthcmvni), may be taken as a 

 * Like the Siui-flower. 



