22 



INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



part of a liorny 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 require not, for their protection, the beautiful and 

 effectual contrivances exhibited in the Gorgonia and the Isis. 



ORDER III. HELIANTIIOIDA.* 



' 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 BARTAS. 



Fig. 12. SEA -ANEMONE. 



Like the Sun-flower. 



THE name of the 

 present order de- 

 notes that the ani- 

 mals it includes 

 bear a resemblance 

 to such flowers as 

 the daisy, the mari- 

 gold, and others, 

 which the botanist 

 terms "compound" 

 (Fig. 12, 14). The 

 most common na- 

 tive species are sin- 

 gle with a fleshy 

 body, live only in 

 the sea, and have 

 the mouth encircled 

 with tubular tenta- 

 cula. 



The common Sea- 

 anemone, which is 

 generally to be seen 

 in the rock-pools 

 round our shores 



