CORAL. 157 



LESSON XXXIII. 



ZOOPHYTES CORAL CORAL REEFS NEW ISLANDS 

 SPONGES MADREPORES. 



A VERY singular portion of the animal kingdom 

 is included in our present class. This consists of 

 sponges, corals, and other objects, which have 

 been called zoophytes, or animal-plants. This 

 name has been given to them because many resemble 

 vegetable productions very closely ; and there are 

 others amongst them that have a likeness near to 

 masses of stone or rock. 



Some of these zoophytes are fixed to the bot- 

 tom of the -sea by a kind of root, and grow very 

 much in the same way as plants. They multiply, 

 also, by nearly the same means, that is, by buds 

 and slips, and as they never move from one spot, 

 and give very little sign of feeling, they are often 

 taken for sea-weed. They are, however, perfect 

 animals of their kind, and are provided with ten- 

 tacula or feelers, which they employ to catch their 

 food. 



Others of these minute and extraordinary crea- 

 tures, which have the common name of polyjn 9 

 dwell together by millions, and build for them- 

 selves strong habitations, .which we call coral. 

 Each of these little masons has, however, its own 

 house, in which it dwells separate from its neigh- 

 O 



