ZOOPHYTES. 



ACTI N O IDA 



UITTING the Acalephfe, we come to the vast class of Zoophytes, or animal plants, 

 so called, because, though really belonging to the animal kingdom, many of them 

 bear a singularly close resemblance to vegetable forms. In our beautiful oleo- 

 (~<^*^j g ra P n > seven European species of this class are given, some to exhibit their forms 

 nzJ&iJ }) as * ne y a PP ear when expanded, and the others to show the variety in colors. 

 ^"OtP^k? These seven species are : The Thick-petalled Sea-rose (Thelia crassicornis) ; 

 the Sagartia parasitica; the Sea-pink; the Widow: the Red-anemone 

 {Sagartia rosea); the Warty-anemone ; and the Green-anemone {Anthea cerats). As 

 there exists a great similarity in the form and structure of these Sea-anemones, it will lie 

 sufficient to describe only sonic of them. The substance of these Zoophytes is always gelatinous 

 and fleshy, and round the entrance to the stomach are set certain tentacles, used in catching- 

 prey and conveying it to the stomach. These tentacles arc armed with myriads of offensive 

 weapons contained in little capsules, and capable of being discharged with great force. Organs 

 of sight, smell, taste, and hearing seem to lie totally absent, though it is possible that an 

 extended sense of touch may compensate the creature for these deficiencies. 



Without entering further into the constitution of these singular beings, we will proceed 

 to the examination of the various groups into which they have been divided. 



In the family of the Lucernariadje, the tentacles are arranged in detached groups, a 

 peculiarity whereby the creatures may easily lie recognized. These organs are placed upon 

 the (inter edge of the membranous and expanded disc, in the centre of which is the squared 

 mouth. They are mostly found adherent by a stem to some object, but they can swim with 

 tolerable rapidity, their bodies pulsating like those of the Medusae. None of them attain any 

 great size, the largest being about one inch in height. Pink is their usual color. 



Mr. Gosse, in his " Sea-anemones and Corals,*' remarks that the Lucernariada? have closer 

 affinities with the Medusa' than with the Actinia 1 , on account of several structural peculiarities, 

 among which maybe mentioned the gelatinous texture, the expanded umbrella, the egg-sacs 

 in the substance of the umbrella, and the squared mouth at the end of a free footstalk. I have, 

 therefore, departed a little from the ordinary arrangement, and placed the Lucernariadse 

 immediately after the Acalephs, forming a kind of intermediate link between them. 



The highest form of true Zoophyte is, undoubtedly, that which is so familiar under the 

 name of Sea-anemone — a name singularly inappropriate, inasmuch as the resemblance to an 

 anemone is very far-fetched ; while that to the chrysanthemum, daisy, or dandelion is very 

 close. These creatures are called Actinoida, and are easily distinguished by having the 

 stomach inclosed in a sac divided into compartments by radiating partitions. "For convenience 

 sake, this group is divided into two sub-orders, the iirst of which is the Actinaria, known by 

 the number of tentacles (twelve or more), perforated above, and the radiating partitions some- 

 times depositing solid, chalky plates, commonly called "coral." The tribe Astra?acea is 

 known by the imperfect series of tentacles, and the family Actiniadse by their circular arrange- 

 ment. 



