PLANT-ANIMALS, OR ZOOPHYTES. 17? 



may indicate the direction in which further information 

 is to be sought (figs. 28 to 32). 



Amongst all the minute organisms which make 

 their homes in the " deep, deep sea," there are none 

 more beautiful, or instructive, especially when seen 

 under a low power of the microscope, than the " plant- 

 animals " or zoophytes. Other colonies may have a 

 history almost as strange, but they do not offer the 

 same facilities for observation as do these dwellers in 

 almost transparent houses, through which much of 

 their domestic economy may be studied. They are 

 always favourites with the sea-shore collector, but the 

 empty cases are but shadows of the living animals, 

 as seen in their native element. " There must always " 

 and here again we quote Mr. Hincks " be a certain 

 fascination in a history which tells us of animals com- 

 posed of multitudes of individuals (zooids) living an 

 associated life, and so combining as to produce the: 

 most graceful plant-like structures vegetating like a 

 tree putting forth thousands of polypites, ! like leaves, 

 each a provider for the commonwealth putting forth 

 also a company of buds, charged with the perpetuation 

 of the species, ripening in transparent urns, and scatter- 

 ing their winged seeds broadcast,or sent forth,moulded 

 and painted by the highest art, like fairy emigrant ships 

 freighted with young life, to colonise distant seas." 1 



1 "Zoophytes : ths History of their Development," in Quar- 

 terly Journal of Sdenc:, vol. ii. No. 7, p. 416. 



N 



