CORALLIFEIU. 487 



CRISTATELLA, Cuvier, 



Where there is a double range of numerous tentacula on the mouth, curved 

 into a half moon, forming a plume of that figure, which attracts the nutritious 

 molecules by their regular motion. These mouths are placed on short necks 

 attached to a common gelatinous body, which proceeds in the usual manner of 

 a hydra. These animals are found in stagnant waters in France. To the 

 naked eye they seem to be small spots of mould. 



VORTICELLA, 



Where the stem is fixed, frequently ramous and much divided, each branch 

 terminating by a body shaped like a bell or horn. From the aperture project 

 two opposing groups of filaments which are constantly in motion, and that 

 attract nutritious molecules. The species are very numerous in fresh water, 

 and are generally too small to be perceived without a microscope. They form 

 bushes, arbuscles, plumes, &c. &c. 



PEDICELLARIA. 



The Pedicellarise are found between the spines of the Echini, and are 

 considered by various authors as organs of these animals; most probably 

 however they are Polypi, which there seek an asylum. They consist of a 

 long slender stem, which terminates by a horn, furnished at its extremity 

 with tentacula, sometimes filiform and sometimes foliaceous. 



ORDER III. 



CORALLIFERI. 



THE Coralliferi constitute that numerous suite of species which were long 

 considered as marine plants, and of which the indi- 

 viduals are in fact united in great numbers to constitute 

 compound animals, mostly fixed like plants, either 

 forming a stem or simple expansions, by means of a 

 solid internal substance. The individual animals, more 

 or less analogous to the Actiniae or Hydrae, are all con- 

 nected by a common body, and are nourished in 

 common, so that what is eaten by one goes to the 

 nutrition of the general body, and of all the other Polypi. Their volition is 

 even in common, at least it is certainly so in the free species, such as the 

 Pennatulae, which are seen swimming by the contractions of their stems, and 

 the combined motions of their Polypi. 



