106 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 



We cannot wonder that such organisms were 

 long regarded as belonging to the vegetable 

 kingdom. The cups which terminate the 

 branches contain, however, an animal struct- 

 ure, resembling a small Sea Anemone, and 

 possessing arms which capture the food by 

 which the whole colony is nourished. Some 

 of these cups, moreover, differ from the rest, 

 and produce eggs. These then we might 

 be disposed to term ovaries. But in many 

 species they detach themselves from the group 

 and lead an independent existence. Thus we 

 find a complete gradation from structures 

 which, regarded by themselves, we should un- 

 questionably regard as mere organs, to others 

 which are certainly separate and independent 

 beings. 



Fig. 2 represents, after Allman, a colony of 

 Bougainvillea fruticosa of the natural size. 

 It is a British species, which is found growing 

 on buoys, floating timber, etc., and, says 

 Allman, " When in health and vigour, offers 

 a spectacle unsurpassed in interest by any 

 other species every branchlet crowned by 

 its graceful hydranth, and budding with Me- 



