242 ZOOPHYTES. 



With this fibre the zoophyte commences, and an 

 erect stem rises, from which shoot branches in all 

 directions, each terminated with a little 

 fleshy shining red knob or head, on 

 which are a number of short thick 

 tentaenla or arms, which are very 

 vigorous, ever moving up and down to 

 catch such prey as comes within their 

 reach; and each tipped with a little 

 globular end. These are the polypes ; 

 the mouths of the fleshy living thread 

 which runs through every portion of the zoophyte. 

 The tentacula, though always moving, yet do so 

 very slowly ; and it is most interesting to watch 

 the gradual motions of this little creature. It may 

 be preserved for some time in salt water, if the 

 liquid be frequently changed. The stem of this 

 coryne is horny, tubular, somewhat clear, wrinkled 

 and ringed. Occasionally this zoophyte is para- 

 sitic on other species. When growing on another 

 coralline, the Tubularia, it sometimes gathers all 

 about the stalks, covering them with little horny 

 threads, not thicker than such as are used for sew- 

 ing. It is also itself sometimes covered with small 

 parasitic sea-weeds, composed of slender threads ; 

 so that Dr. Johnston remarks of it, that he has 

 seen specimens so completely overrun with this, 

 that they appeared, under the microscope, nearly 

 as mossy and glandulous as the stalks of the moss- 

 rose. Our figure represents the coralline in its 

 natural size. 



There is a genus of zoophytes called Tubularia, 

 from the tubular-like pipes of which they are com- 

 posed. The fibres of this family are all hollow and 

 erect, and a soft pulp runs through them ; while 



