410 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



furiously ; but they soon return to quietness, and the 

 arms, which during the commotion have been doubled 

 up, open again. 



It is really a circumstance well calculated to excite 

 the astonishment even of the tyro in natural history 

 in these days, and to afford convincing evidence of 

 the vast improvements effected during the last few 

 years in the means of research at our disposal, that 

 numerous and conspicuous as these creatures now 

 appear to be as subjects for microscopic examination, 

 the details of their ceconomy were utterly unknown, 

 and their real nature even unsuspected, until about 

 thirty years ago, when the learned eye of Ehrenberg, 

 and the patient but ill-requited industry of Mr. J. V. 

 Thompson, nearly at the same time demonstrated the 

 wide distinctions whereby they were separated from 

 ordinary polyps, and raised them to their true dignity, 

 as forming a most important and interesting class of 

 the Animal Creation. By the former of these eminent 

 expositors of the works of the Almighty they were 

 named BRYOZOA * 3 or Moss-like animals ; by the latter, 

 POLYZOA f, or Many-animals, in allusion to the mul- 

 titudinous communities in which they are found 

 aggregated together; but by far the best name 

 although, unfortunately, not Greek enough for modern 

 ears is that proposed by their erudite historiographer, 

 Dr. Arthur Farre, who called them CILIOBRACHIATA, 

 or Cilium-armed Polyps, in allusion to what we 

 shall soon perceive to be the most distinctive fea- 

 ture of their organization. Let us, however, select 



* Bpvov, moss ; &ovj an animal. 

 t IloXvy, many j o>oi/, an animal. 



