J. D. Dana on Zoophytes. 187 
and severe thunder squalls appeared on the same day, in different 
places, within the compass of the same general storm. Another 
tornado occurred on the 13th of August, 1840, at Woodbridge, 
near New Haven, Ct., during a general storm, following the local 
direction of the storm-wind, from 8S. 8. E. to N. N. aoe trans- 
versely to the course pursued by the larger storm. 
These with other cases which might be adduced, may serve to 
show that the small tornadoes which sometimes occur in great 
storms have no essential or inherent connexion with the vortex 
of the larger storm, even in those cases in which the courses of 
progression may chance to coincide.* 
We have further to notice the barometrical phenomena of the 
two Cfba storms, their geographical relations to contiguous winds 
and currents of the lower atmosphere, and some of the practical 
bearings of the subject upon the interests of commerce an 
navigation. 
_- 
Arr. XVI1L—On Zoophytes, No. Il; by James D. Danat. 
8. Tur word zoophyte has been translated an animal that 
grows like a plant, and in this sense it is well applied to the sev- 
eral species so designated. It is a curious question, how animals 
can have the mode of growth of vegetation, and yet be wholly 
removed from the vegetable kingdom; how some species may 
form mossy tufts, others lichen-like fronds, others resemble shrubs 
and trees, and yet possess not a single one of the essential char- 
acteristics of vegetable life : how, too, these animals form structures 
of coral, a material harder than marble and like it in composition, 
and ‘has cover the ocean’s bed with shrubbery and flowers of 
living stone. There seems to be much mystery in the subject ; 
but the greatest wonder will be found to consist in its simplicity. 
It is in fact so extremely simple, that the mind in ignorant sur- 
prise overleaps the true explanations to be found close at hand, 
*In like manner, common thunder storms are often known to appear in or 
above the local portions of a great storm. n examination of this class of storms 
will show that the narrow tornadoes and thunder storms often extend to a greater 
height than the great gales or hurricanes. 
i The abstract of the Exploring Expedition Report on Zoopbytes commenced 
in the last number, is here continued, with such modifications or diel from 
sources, as would adapt the subject to the pages of this Journ 
