194 



ZOOPHYTIES. 



CORALS, MADREPORES, &c. 



Gradual, from these what nvimerous kinds descend 



Evaditjg e'en the micru&copic e\ e! 



Full Nature swarms with life 3 one wond'roub mass 



Of anipials, or atoms organized, 



Waiting the vital breath, when Pai'ent Heaven 



Shall bid his spirit blow. Thomson. 



The various Cases contain a rich and numerous as- 

 semblage of the nihabitants of the marine world, 

 disposed in such a manner as they may be supposed 

 to exist in the bottom of their native element : they 

 consist of Shells, Corals, Corallines, Madrepores, 

 Gorgonias, Sponges, &c. &c. to describe which ac- 

 curately would require the pen of an Ellis or a So- 

 lander, and woald far exceed the limits of this little 

 publication. We shall merely observe, that till lately 

 the principal parts of the contents of these Cases were 

 considered as Marine Vegetables, growing from the 

 bottom of the ocean ; but the observation of later 

 naturalists have decidedly proved them to be the 

 fabrication of different minute animals, which how- 

 ever insignificant they may appear to the unobstrving 

 part of mankind, are, from their immense, their in- 



