CHAPTER IX. 



And here were coral bowers, 



And grots of madrepores, 

 And banks of sponge, as soft and fair to eye 



As e'er was mossy bed 

 Whereon the wood-nymphs lie 

 With languid limbs in summer's sultry hours. 



SOUTHEY. 



ZOOPHYTES OF SOUTHPORT. 



fHE term Zoophyte is applied to all those productions 

 which, bearing a strong resemblance to vegetables in 

 form and some other particulars, are yet of an animal nature. 

 The arborescent forms are often called Corallines, a name 

 particularly appropriate, being a derivative of the word Coral. 

 They are intimately allied to the Corals by means of which 

 such gigantic changes are daily being effected. Islands 

 and continents are being raised from the deep abysses of 

 the ocean, to be hereafter clothed with vegetation and 

 probably made the seat of a busy population and these 

 mighty results are being brought about by the agency of minute 



