POLYPIFERA. 



343 



perties. The most obvious character common to this vast 

 race of animals, is, that their mouths are surround^by 

 radiating tentacula, arranged some- 

 what like the ray of a flower; and hence 

 the term Zoophyte. So plant-like, 

 indeed, are their forms, that the an- 

 cients regarded them as vegetating 

 stones, and invented many theories to 

 explain their growth. 



This sub-kingdom, as before stated, 

 is termed Ccelenterata, and is now 

 divided and subdivided by Professor 

 Huxley into the following : 



Septa, &c., x 5 or 6. Septa, &c., x 4. 



Simple soft-bodied. 



1. ACTIKID35. 1. BEROID2E. 



Actinea, Minyas. Cydippe, Cesium. 



Compound Skeleton spicular. 



2. ZOANTHIDIE. 2. ALCYONIDJE. 



Zoanthus. Alcyonium. 



Compound Skeleton sclerobasic. 

 3. ANTIPATHIDJE. 3. GORGONID*,. 



Antipathes. Gorgonia, Isis, 



Corallium. 



Compound and Simple Skeleton thecal continuous. 



4. PERFORATA. 4. TUBIPORIDJE. 



Porites, Madrepora. Tubiporcu. 



5. TABULATA. 5. RUGOSA. 



Millepora, Seriatopora. Stauria, Cyatlianonia. 



G. APOROSA. 

 Cyathina, Oculina. 

 Astrcea, Fungia. 



Cyathophyllum. 

 Cystiphyllum. 



\ - IS 



III 



Opposed to all our common ideas 

 of animal life is this singular portion 

 of creation. If we cut a limb off a tree, 

 or sever that of an animal, these parts 

 will wither and decompose, by passing 

 into other forms of matter. Cut a tree 

 across its middle, and its natural symmetry is irrepa- 

 rably disfigured ; slit it down its centre, and ifc is de- 

 stroyed : all animals so treated suffer instant death, with 

 the sole exception of the polype ; for it will put forth 

 new limbs, form a new head or tail, and if slit, become 

 two separate perfect creatures. 



Fig. 188. Asteroid 

 Zoophytes. 



