CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS. 333 



larva, or caterpillar. At length it casts off its skin and appears 

 in another form without limbs. It neither takes nourishment, 

 moves, nor gives any signs of life ; this is called chrys'alis. 

 In process of time, by examining it closely, the imperfect form 

 of the butterfly may be seen through the envelope ; this, it 

 soon bursts, and a perfect butterfly appears. When about to 

 pass into the chrys'alis state, of- which they appear to have 

 warning, the insect selects some place where it may repose 

 safely during its temporary death.* The silk worm spins its 

 silken web to wrap itself in, and this web is that from which 

 all our silks are made. 



Fourth Grand Division. Radiated Animals. 

 Fig. 133. 



CLASS x. Zo'ophites, or animal plants. Here we find the 

 lowest beings in the animal kingdom. Some of the orders of 

 this class contain animals which have neither -heart, brains, 

 nerves, nor any apparent means of breathing. These are 

 sometimes called animal plants ; many of them, as the corals, 

 are fixed to rocks, and never change place. The term coral 

 includes under it many species ; the red coral used for orna- 

 ments, is the most beautiful. The substance of coral, when 

 subjected to chemical analysis, is found to consist chiefly of 

 carbonate of lime ; the hard crust which envelopes the animal 

 substance, is an excretion formed by it in the same way as the 



* May not this be considered as a lesson to man to anticipate and provide for 

 the change in his existence, which his bodily infirmities, and his daily observa- 

 tion, teach him is to be his own lot ? 



Class 10th Description of Zoophites Corals. 



