PLANT-ANIMALS, OR ZOOPHYTES. 175 



plant-like configuration passes as conclusive evidence 

 of their vegetable nature ; and the non-scientific world 

 now, like the men of science of a century ago, receives 

 the doctrine of their animality with incredulity. And, 

 indeed, we cannot wonder at the scepticism ; for so 

 complete is the imitation of vegetable forms in these 

 beings, and so vegetative in many respects is the 

 fashion of their life, that there is nothing to suggest 

 a doubt, on a slight and superficial acquaintance, as 

 to their affinities. The skeletons only of the zoophyte 

 commonly fall in the way of the amateur collector on 

 the shore, and these, intermingled with the algae, 

 and resembling nothing so much as miniature shrubs, 

 and trees, offer no sufficient clue to the interpretation 

 of its history." l It may suffice to say that the best 

 known of these zoophytes are those which belong to 

 the sub-order Thecaphora, in which the polypes and 

 reproductive buds, are enclosed in protective cases, 

 and especially the Sertularians, which belong to the 

 families named Sertnlariidce and Plumularidce (fig. 27). 

 These names will convey no ideas to those unac- 

 quainted with the small details which make up the 

 systematic characters of these little animals, but they 



1 "The Sertularian Zoophytes of our Shores," by the Rev. T. 

 Hincks, in Popular Science Review, vol. viii. p. 223 (1869) ; see 

 also " The Hydroid Medusas," in Popular Science Review, 

 vol. xi. p. 337 (1872). 



