242 



CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS. 



At length it casts ofF its skin, and appears in another form without 

 limbs. It neither takes nourishment, moves, nor gives any signs 

 of life; this is the chrysalis. In process of time, by examining it 

 closely, the imperfect form of the butterfly may be seen through the 

 envelope; this it soon bursts, and a perfect butterjly appears. When 

 about to pass into the chrysalis state, of which they appear to have 

 warning, the insect selects some place where it may repose safely 

 during its temporary death.* The silk-worm spins a silken web for 

 a shroud to wrap itself in, and from this all our silks are made. 



Radiated Animals. 



Fio;. 158. 



Class X, Zoophiles, or animal plants. Here we find the lowest 

 V/eings in the animal kingdom. Some of the orders of this class 

 contain animals which have neither heart, brains, nerves, nor any 

 apparent means of breathing. These are sometimes called animal 

 plants ; many of them, as the corals^ are fixed to rocks, and change 

 place. The term coral includes under it many species ; the red cho- 

 ral used for ornaments, is the most beautiful. The substance of co- 

 ral, when subjected to chemical analysis, is found to consist chiefly 

 of carbonate of lime ; the hard crust which envelops the animal 

 substance, is an excretion formed by it in the same way as the shells 

 of the oyster and lobster are produced, or as nails grow upon the 

 fingers and toes of the human body. The quantity of this carbon- 

 ate of hme, elaborated by the little coral animal, is truly wonderful; 

 islands are formed, and harbours blocked up by it. Fig. 158, a, rep- 

 resents a branching coral ; the dots show the apertures by which the 

 animal receives its nourishment. Some of the zoophites are fixed 

 by a kind of root, to the bottom of the sea ; some, as the sea-nettle, 

 Avhich appears like the segment of a circle, are carried about by the 

 motion of the waters, without any voluntary motion, as are also the 

 sea-daisy, sea-marygold, and the sea-carnation, so named from an 

 apparent resemblance to those plants. We find here the sea-fan, the 

 sea-pen, and the madrepore, the latter of which are often thrown to- 

 gether in vast quantities. 



* May not this be considered as a lesson to man to anticipate and provide for the 

 change in his existence, which, his bodily infirmities and daily observation teach him, 

 is to be his own lot7 



Class 10th— Description of zoophites— Corals — Various kinds of zoophiles. 



