462 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



POLYPIFERA. 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 t 

 indeed, are their forms, that the early 

 observers regarded tLem as vegetating 

 stones, and in\ 3nted many theories to 

 explain their growth. 



They belong to a sub-kingdom 

 termed Coelenterata, now divided and 

 subdivided by Professor Huxley into 

 the following : 



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



Simple soft-bodied. 



1. ACTIKIDJE. 1. BEROIDJE. 



Actinca, Minyat. Cydippe, Cesium. 



Compound Skeleton spicular. 



2. ZoANrniDffi. 2. ALCYONID.B. 



Zoanthus. Alcyonium. 



Compound Skeleton sclerobasic. 

 3. ANTIPATHIDJE. 3. GORGON ID*. 



Anlipathes. Gorgonia, Itis, 



Corallium. 



Compound and Simple Skeleton thecal continuous 



4. PERFORATA. 4. TUBIPORID;E. 



Porites, Madrepora. Tubipora. 



5. TABULATA. 5. RUGOSA. 

 Millepora, Seriatopora. Stauria, Cyathanonib. 



Cyathophyllum. 



6. APOROSA. Cystiphijllum. 

 Cyathina, Oculina. 



Astreea, Fungia. 



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 



Hg.280.-xwro U wither and decom P ose > b J passing 

 zoophytes. 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 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. 



