426 THE MOUNTAIN. 



FOURTH GREAT DIVISION OF THE ANIMAL 

 KINGDOM; OR, RADIATED ANIMALS. 



THIS division embraces animals of simple or uncomplicated 

 organization, not the less wonderful on that account, rather the 

 more so, as executing complex functions with the most rudi- 

 mentary instrumentalities ; and is the region of trouble, sur- 

 prise, and doubt, where the plant and animal contest their re- 

 spective fields, and the naturalist has attempted a compromise 

 by calling the forms Zoophytes, which means animal-plants. 

 It includes a vast range of structures and "variety of degrees," 

 all of which, however, agree on one point, namely, " their 

 parts are arranged around an axis, and on one or several 

 radii, or on one or several lines extending from one pole to 

 the other," and, with a few exceptions, affecting the radiat- 

 ing form, however shadowy or far off. It is a world of crea- 

 tures that seem doomed on the question of cunningly-devised 

 mechanisms eliminating thought through material organs 

 alone, for the "nervous system is never very evident," 

 there is never any true circulating system," and "in the 

 great number of Zoophytes there are no vessels whatever." 

 Some Zoophytes have regular stomachs and the rudiments 

 of an intestinal canal ; others have a mere intestinal sack 

 without any opening, and in others there is a " mere exca- 

 vation in their substance without any opening," and there 

 are those which " can only be nourished by porous absorp- 

 tion. " Sex is sometimes distinguishable ; and they are said 

 to be oviparous, while others are " reproduced by divisions 

 or buds." 



The Radiata are divided into five classes, namely: Echino- 



