EADIATA. 



Unicellaria Chelata. a Natural size, b Magnified. 



W 6 

 Flustra Carl) isea. a Section natural size, b Magnined 





lietrnnc's Lunulite en Parasol, a Portion magnified. 

 6 Natural size, c Three cells, highly magnified. 



capturing prey ; the mouth is beneath, central, purse-shaped, and susceptible of extension ; the feelers are 

 numerous, various-shaped, suctional, and cover the entire belly; the eggs are very small, immensely 

 numerous, and are nestled amid the feelers. These creatures abound in the Carribean Sea. 



The Class, Acalephte, derives its name from the stinging power possessed by nearly all its varieties. 

 Popularly, these animals are variously called sea-nettles and jelty-ft&h. It is not easy to specify marks 

 characterising all the species, so immense are the differences among them. They are not, like some classes, 

 attached to solid bodies, but can move freely through the sea, nor, like others, are they covered with a 

 thick integument. The tissues are so soft, that they appear almost like masses of jelly, and from this fact 

 came one of their popular names. Without further specifications, we furnish some representations of the 

 class. 



The Beroe Ovata, the Medusa, and the Physalus, are examples of this class. 



The class, Polypifera, was formerly a subject of dispute, some classing it among animals, others among 

 vegetables. These animals form the structures named Corals, Corallines, &c. It has been supposed that 

 the Coral was formed by certain insects, as the comb is by bees. This is an error. Corals, Sea-fans, &c, 

 are skeletons of the animals that produced them, and are parts of the living creature so long as the flesh. 

 clothing them, retains any vitality. 



The Hydra, or fresh-water Polypus, one of this class, is a minute animal, found in great abundance 

 clustering round aquatic plants in stagnant pools. It alters its form and contracts into a sort of sphere 

 when digesting its food, which consists of aquatic worms and insects. 



Among the Radiata, the large class of Zoophytes, and Polypi are ranked. Many of these animals are 

 very minute, microscopic, in fact. Still they are. extremely interesting to naturalists on account of their 

 curious habits. 



The Cellarisea are Polypifera, and in all their varieties are very curious creatures. They consist of a com- 

 pact, gelatinous matter, studded with numerous cells, inhabited by Polypuses. An opaque-white, egg- 

 shaped, flattened, little body, previously invisible, issues from this gelatinous mass, apparently through the 

 special influence of light. " These minute creatures are very active, swimming through the water in all 

 directions, now rising to the surface, and now diving to the bottom, moving in ;t straight line, or in a circle, 

 (383) 



