4C2 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



ft 



Polypifeha. — The chief characteristic of this vast race 

 of animals is, that their mouths are surrounded by 

 radiating tentacula, arranged some- 

 whatlike 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 

 :^^^S\ stones, and invented many theories to 

 M BPfJ 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. Actinid.e. 1. Beroid;e. 



Actinea, Minyas. Cydippe, Cesium. 



Compound — Skeleton spicular. 



2. ZOANTHID/E. 2. ALCYONIDX. 



Zoanthus. Alcijontu.ni. 



Compound — Skeleton sclerobasir. 



3. AntipathiujE. 3. Gorgonid.*.. 



Antipathes. Goryonia, lsis, 



Corallium. 



Compound and Simple — Skeleton thecal — continuous 



 : ;> 



?i 



4. Perforata. 



Porites, Madrepora. 



5. Tabulata. 

 Millepora, Seriatopora. 



6. Aporosa. 

 Ci/atliina, Oculina. 

 Astrcea, Fungia. 



4. Tubipokics:. 

 Tubipora. 



5. Rugosa. 

 Stauria, Cyut/tanoniti. 



Cytitliop/r/fli um. 

 Cystiyhijllum. 



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: 



Fig. 280.— Asteroid . , „ . f ' j> f & 



Zoophytes. into other forms or niatte«\ 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. 



