Zoophytes. 



By W. West, L.D.S. Read September 27 tk, 1906. 

 Hydroid Zoophytes. 



The subject I have the pleasure of bringing before your notice this 

 evening is one that, little more than a century ago, was the cause of 

 great controversy amongst scientific men. 



The botanist claimed Zoophytes as a branch of the kingdom he 

 studied. The zoologist ignored them, except the Actiniae or animal 

 flowers. The mineralogist questioned their botanical origin, and claimed 

 them as rocks or stones moulded into the figures of mosses or trees by 

 the action of the waves; but this theory was not generally accepted. 

 Up to as recently as 1826 they were classified amongst the seaweeds ; 

 prior to that date, in 1727, Peysonnel wrote a paper which was read 

 before the Academy of Sciences in Paris, in which he maintained, 

 that what were considered flowers growing on coral were really 

 animals, and asserted that the animals secreted the coral in a fluid 

 state, which afterwards became hard. He had to endure consider- 

 able opprobrium, and it was not until 1741, when Abraham Trembly 

 made his observations, that the animal nature of the Zoophytes was 

 conclusively proved. 



Still the controversy went on until the time of Linnaeus, who would 

 not accept the theory of their animal nature, but placed them on the 

 boundary line between animals and vegetables. 



Now, thanks to improvements in our scientific apparatus and 

 means of observation, it is conclusively proved, and generally 

 accepted, that they belong to the animal kingdom. 



Let us see why there should be such difficulty in placing these 

 little organisms in their proper place. 



It is very excusable that these difficulties should arise, for at a first 

 glance a branch of Zoophytes looks like a piece of sea-weed or other 

 plant. They are attached by a root (or what looks like one) to rocks 

 or shells, or are parasitic on seaweed. On a closer observation what 

 appear to be little flowers are seen, sometimes of gorgeous colours, 

 sometimes open, at others closed like buds. So it is not surprising 

 that in the early days of scientific research the observers should have 

 fallen into error. 



Before proceeding to describe the Hydroid Zoophytes, it will be 

 necessary for me to refer to a few somewhat difficult terms, which I 

 hope you will be able to remember, as it will assist you to understand 



