ANTHOZOA ZOOPHYTES. 47 



Acalephs, that swim about like little parachutes, 

 cast out by thousands into the surrounding water. 

 On the other hand, the young of the medusae are 

 found, in the first stage of their existence, exactly to 

 resemble hydriforrn Polypes, proving at least the 

 existence of a relationship among them, although its 

 extent is as yet very imperfectly understood. 



CHAPTER VI. 



ANTHOZOA* (Corals). 



IF earth can boast its gardens and parterres, so can 

 the bottom of the sea ; nor do the flowers of ocean 

 yield one jot either in the elegance of their forms, or 

 the brilliancy of their colouring, to the blossoms that 

 adorn the realms of Flora. The corallines that we 

 have hitherto considered, constitute, as it were, but 

 the mosses and the lichens of the coral landscape : 

 we must now turn our attention to the larger plants 

 and shrubs. The Zoophytes,! that next present 

 themselves to our consideration, imitate nearly every 

 variety of terrestrial vegetation. Trees of coral 

 exist, which, though they do not equal in size the 

 oaks of our forests, are gracefully branched, and 

 their whole surface blooms with coral-polypes in the 

 place of leaves and flowers. Our shrubs, our rose- 

 trees, beds of pinks and feathery ferns are all re- 

 flected, as it were, in mimic beauty. Some species 

 spread themselves into broad leaves, studded with 

 Polype flowers. The gorgeous blossoms of the cactus, 

 the full-blown sun-flower, and the wreathing vine, 

 have each their living representatives. Besides these 

 forms, imitating vegetation, the shapes of graceful 



* &/0os, anthos, a flower ; fwoj/, zoon, an animal, so called from 

 their resemblance to flowers. 



f &ov, zoon, an animal ; tyvrdv, phutpn, a plant /thus named 

 by the older naturalists from their plant-like appearance. 



