66 J. D. Dana on Zoophytes. 
others.* The scientific world was divided, and Reaumur in his 
earlier writings condemned the new views advocated by Peys- 
sonel as too absurd to be discussed. The investigations of 'Trem- 
bley on the Hydra polyps, and of Jussieu of other species obtained 
on the sea-coast of France, finally convinced. Reaumur. Ellis by 
a laborious series of investigations, led the way in England ; and 
though his facts were doubted by some, they were soon received 
with full credit.t The figures of these authors represented actual 
flowers, as regards form; but these flowers were shown to have 
a mouth, and to be capable of eating like animals. They were 
actually fed, and the process of digestion watched through its 
different stages. Moreover they were shown to be an essential 
and constituent part of the zoophyte. The petal-like organs 
which produce the striking similarity to flowers, were observed 
im some instances to be used as arms in taking their prey and 
conveying it to the mouth; for which purpose they were con- 
veniently arranged in a éinels around the mouth. The coral 
ossoms were consequently declared to be animal in every essen- 
tial character. Yet Linneeus, after long hesitation, advanced no 
farther than to admit for zoophytes an intermediate nature be- 
tween plants and animals. Thus more than a century elapsed 
after the discussion commenced, before this one simple fact in 
science became generally believed, that zoophytes are animals, 
and resemble plants only in sometimes assuming the shapes of 
vegetation. The point is now no longer doubted. 
In these remarks we exclude sponges from the class of z00- 
phytes. Their nature is still a subject of dispute, and some of 
the most distinguished names in science are committed on oppo- 
site sides. If animals, they have only the most general properties 
of animal life, and are less nearly related to polyps than to the 
infusorial animalcules. They are arranged with the latter by | 
Dujardin. : 
Though zoophytes have no connection with the vegetable 
kingdom, polyps may be styled with much propriety flower- 
P. Boecone, Museo di Fisica » ot, bbc! 1694, 1 a 4to, with figures. 
i Employment for the Micrdscope, pp. 218—220. London, 17: 
t Ellis published various memoirs in the Pinal Wvtibdetione, from the 
years 1753 to 1776, and also a work entitled Essay towards a Natural History of 
Corallines, 4to, with plates; London, 1754. A posthumous work of this author 
‘was afterwards published by Solander, under the title, The Nutural History of 
many curio ‘Zoophyes, 4to, with 63 plates, London, 1756. 
