84 CLASS IX. ZOOPHYTES. 



The Polypes have a hollow, cylindrical, or conical body, 

 with one extremity open, which serves for their mouth, ana 

 is surrounded by a number of tentacula. The simple cavity 

 thus formed constitutes their only organ, and performs all the 

 functions of which they are capable. They seize their prey 

 and convey it to their mouths with the tentacula, and, as their 

 bodies are gelatinous and semi-transparent, the operation of 

 digestion may be seen going on within. Many of the polypes 

 have been celebrated on account of the fact, that when one 

 is divided into several pieces, each piece becomes a distinct 

 animal, perfect in all its parts. The immense beds of coral, 

 and the different kinds of sponge, are nothing but the habita- 

 tions of infinite numbers of these little animals, and are pro- 

 duced by their labor. 



The Animalcules are animals still more minute, and are 

 scarcely discernible except by the assistance of the micro- 

 scope. Thousands of them are in this way brought to our 

 view, of various shapes, sizes, and appearances. Most of 

 them offer to the view merely a gelatinous mass, capable of an 

 imperfect sort of motion. Some, however, present appearances 

 of a structure which might give them a claim to a higher 

 rank in the scale of beings, did not their minuteness prevent a 

 proper examination. These animals are principally found in 

 some animal and vegetable fluids and infusions, and hence 

 have sometimes received the name of Infusoria. 



This completes a view of the whole animal kingdom, be- 

 ginning with man, the most perfect member of it, and descend- 

 ing to those obscure and minute creatures which are scarcely 

 visible except with the assistance of the microscope. It will 

 be observed, that one common plan pervades the whole ; that 

 the same general objects are had in view, in the structure of 

 every class, and that there is a general analogy in the methods 

 employed for effecting these objects, although there is a great 

 variety in the details; that there is a grand simplicity in the 

 design, though a great diversity in the means. In short, not 

 only in the structure of each individual animal, but in the 

 wonderful manner in which that structure is varied to corre- 

 spond to the nature, habits, and wants of the different classes, 

 we may perceive the wisdom, the power, and the benevolence 

 of that great Creator, who has devised and formed, and who 

 continues to uphold, the myriads of animated beings with 

 which the earth is filled. 



