Notice of Dr. MantelVs Medals of Creation. 123 



character is now fully established.* The zoophytes have also 

 afforded an immense amount of materials towards forming the 

 present habitable earth. In the most ancient fossilized strata, 

 zoophytes hold a conspicuous place, and in the warm climates 

 they are now performing wonders in constructing the founda- 

 tions of immense coralline reefs, to become, in due time, habita- 

 ble islands and populous continents. 



We have no space to cite the author's beautiful account of fos- 

 sil sponges and Alcyonia, many of which we are so happy as to 

 possess, through his liberality, but we must refer to the Medals 

 for a full account of this family, which is rendered very intelli- 

 gible by his fine illustrations and lucid philosophy. For the same 

 reason, and also because we are soon to have an original work on 

 this subject from Mr. Dana, the geologist of the American south 

 polar expedition, we must dispose of the magnificent family of the 

 corals in very brief terms. " The detritus of numerous minute 

 and elegant calcareous Polyparia constitutes a considerable por- 

 tion of the mass of some of the cretaceous beds." The Gor- 

 gonia or Venus' fan is occasionally met with in the fossil state. 



Such is the close resemblance of the stony Polyparia to exist- 

 ing species, that "every pore and cell might be represented 

 fraught with life ; here, the agile inmates, fully expanded, with 

 their httle arms or tentacula, in rapid motion ; then retreating 

 within their recesses and devouring the infinitesimal living 

 atoms that constitute their food, or rapidly sinking to the bot- 

 tom of their cells upon the approach of danger ; even their va- 

 ried colors might be introduced, and thus a beautiful and highly 

 interesting picture be presented to the eye, as now to the ima- 

 gination." Corals were abundant in the early fossiliferous rocks. 

 "A slab of Derby limestone (Eng.) often has the entire surface 

 studded with corals, shells, and crustaceous animals of many 

 species and genera, lying in bold relief, and in the most beautiful 

 state of preservation." 



" Nearly 350 species of zoophytes are enumerated in Mr. Mor- 

 ris's catalogue of British organic remains." The Silurian rocks 

 of North America present the same coral formations as those of 



* If there be a doubt it is in regard to the sponges, which as the author inti- 

 mates may be regarded as true animal plants, — a connecting link between the 

 two kingdoms. 



