INTRODUCTION. V 



and have endeavored to make the description as comprehensive 

 as the limits of the volume would admit; hoping that many may 

 derive pleasure and profit from the investigation of these inhabi- 

 tants of the sea, and that some may be induced to go forth and 

 reveal new facts in the economy of nature ; expounding the won- 

 derful constructions and important uses, which are hidden in the 

 humblest of the Creator's works. 



While some of the objects pictured have been drawn from 

 Nature, expressly for the Tableau ; yet for others which were 

 beyond my reach, I am principally indebted to the government 

 publications of Europe and America. 



JAMES M. SOMMERVILLE, M. D. 



AUTHORITIES. 



Nereis Boreali Americana. By William II. Harvey, M. D. 

 General Outline of the Animal Kingdom. By T. Rymer Jones, 

 F. R. S. Edinburgh Philosophical Journal. Dr. Grant. His- 

 tory of British Sponges. By George Johnson, M. D. Manual 

 of Marine Zoology. By P. II. Gosse. Report of British Asso- 

 ciation, 1834. Sir John Dalyell. British Zoophytes. By Dr. G. 

 Johnston. Prof. A. De Quatrefages. G. B. Sowerby, F.L. S. 

 U. S. Exploring Expedition, Zoophites. By Prof. James D. 

 Dana. Histoire Naturelle Des Zoophytes, Par Rene Primevere 

 Lesson. Philosophical Transactions, 1773. Actinia. Trans- 

 actions of the Microscopical Society of London. Encyclopedia 

 Londiriensis. Actinia. Ann. and Mag. of Natural History, 

 1855. Crustacea. Lectures on the Comparative Anatomy and 

 Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals. By Richard Owen, F. 

 R. S. History of British Star-fishes, &c. By Edward Forbes. 

 S. P. Woodward's Manual of the Mollusca. Siebold's Comp. 

 Anat. of Invertebrata. Voyage daus L'Amerique Meridionale, 

 &c., Par Alcide D'Orbigny. Hand-book of Zoology. By Prof. 

 J. Van Der Hoeven. Le-Regne Animal par Georges Cuvier. 

 Histoire Naturelle de L'lle De Cuba, par M. Ramon De La 

 Sagra. History of British Fishes. By William Yarrell, F.L.S., 

 and my own observations. 



J. M. S. 



