BOTANY. 383 



8. Jlctinology, or Zoophytology, is the name applied to the 

 study of Cuvier's fourth and last great division of animals, the radiata, 

 or zoophytes : this last name signifying plant-like animals. These 

 animals generally have their parts arranged around an axis, and 

 radiating from it. They have no distinct circulation, or nervous 

 system, and no other sense than that of touch ; and even this, in 

 some of them, is nearly wanting. They are mostly capable of loco- 

 motion, and nourished by digestion of food ; in which points they 

 differ sensibly from plants ; though some of them are produced by 

 the mere separation of portions, each of which becomes a perfect 

 animal. The first class, Echinodermata, includes the star fish, sea 

 urchin, and other similar genera. The second class, Entozoa, or 

 Intestini, includes the Guinea worm, tape worm, and others which 

 live within larger animals. The third class, Acahplia, includes the 

 varieties of sea nettle : the fourth class, Polypi, growing from the 

 bottom of the sea by stems, like plants, includes the sea anemone, 

 tubipore, coral animal, madrepore, and spunge : and the fifth class, 

 Infusoria, or animalculae, includes all those small animals which are 

 only visible by the aid of the microscope, as the eel-like animals in 

 vinegar. 



CHAPTER II. 



BOTANY. 



BOTANY, is that branch of Idiophysics or Natural History, which 

 treats of plants ; their structure and mode of growth; their classifica- 

 tion, description, localities, and uses. The name is derived from 

 the Greek, j3ota.vr], an herb or plant : and from $vtov, a plant, this 

 study is also termed Phytology. Plants, or vegetables, are organ- 

 ized bodies ; endowed with life ; but differing from animals, in wanting 

 the powers of sensation and voluntary motion. They differ from 

 minerals, or inorganic bodies, both in possessing a principle of life, 

 and in containing a set of organs, whereby they assimilate new 

 matter to increase their substance ; in which consists their growth. 

 Most plants have a root, stem, and leaves ; and produce flowers, and 

 fruits, or seeds, from which their species are perpetuated : but in 

 some plants the seeds are not perceptible, and the leaves are wholly 

 wanting. The study of plants, should be highly interesting; not 

 only from their beauty and variety, but from the important purposes 

 which they subserve in sustaining animal life ; and the proof, thence 

 derived, of the harmonious designs of the Great Creator. 



The chief ancient writers on Botany, were Aristotle, Theophras- 

 tus, Dioscorides, and especially Pliny ; whose History of the World 

 embodies much of the botanical knowledge of his predecessors. But 

 they formed no general system of Botany ; and, after their times, 

 this study declined, until the modern revival of learning. The first 

 modern work on Botany, which copied nature, rather than ancient 

 authorities, was that of Brunfels, published in 1530. The arrange- 



