462 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



POLJPIFERA. The chief characteristic of this vast race 

 of animals is, that their mouths are surrounded 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 early 

 observers regarded them as vegetating 

 stones, and invented many theories to 

 explain their growth. 



They belong to a sub-kingdom 

 termed Ccelenterata, now divided and 

 subdivided by Professor Huxley into 

 the following : 



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



Simple soft-bodied. 



1. ACTINIDJE. 1. BEROID;E. 



Actinea, Minyas. Cydippe, Cesium. 



Compound Skeleton spicular. 



2. ZOANTHIDJE. 2. ALCYONID.E. 



Zoanthus. Alcyonium. 



Compound Skeleton sclerobasic. 

 3. ANTIPATHIDJE. 3. GORGONIDA. 



Antipathes. Gorgonia, Itis, 



Corallium, 



Compound and Simple Skeleton thecal continuous. 



4. PERFORATA. 



Porites, Madrepora. 



5. TABULATA. 



Millepora, Seriatopora. 



. 6. APOROSA. 

 Cifdthina, Ocultna. 

 Aalraea, Fungia. 



4. TUJBIPORIDJE. 

 Tubipora, 

 5. RUGOSA. 

 Stauria, Cyathanonib. 

 Cynthophyllum. 

 Cystiphyllum. 





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, bv passing 



Fi '. I 2b0. Asteroid * . . - / VT X ? 



Zoophytes. into other forms of matte*'. Cut a tree 

 across its middle, and its natural symmetry is irrepa- 

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

 stroyed : all animals so treated suffer instant death, with 

 the exception of the polype tribe ; for they will put forth 

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

 two separate perfect creatures. 



