2 yj)0L0OY. 



early observers regarded them as " animal flowers ;" and m 

 consequence of the confused notions originally held in regard 

 to them the term Zoophytes has been perpetuated in works 

 on systematic zoology. Even at the present day the com- 

 pound Hydroids, such as the Sertiilaria, are gathered and 

 pressed as sea-mosses by many persons who are unobservant 

 of their peculiarities, and unaware of the complicated anat- 

 omy of the little animals filling the different leaf-like cells. 

 Sponges until a very late day were regarded by our leading 

 zoologists as plants. The most accomplished naturalists, 

 however^ find it impossible to separate by any definite lines 

 the lowest animals and jilants. So-called plants, as Bacte- 

 rium, and so-called animals, as Protammia, or certain mo- 

 nads, which are simple specks of protoplasm, without gen- 

 uine organs, may be referred to either kingdom ; and, in- 

 deed, a number of naturalists, notably Haeckel, relegate 

 to a neutral kingdom (the Protiata) certain low- 

 est plants and animals. Even the germs {zo- 

 ospores) of monads \\\eUvella (Fig. 1), and those 

 of other flagellate infusoria, may be mistaken 

 for the si^ores of plants ; indeed, the active fla- 

 _nvei gellated spores of plants were described as in- 

 )a, a flagellate fusoria bv Ehrcuberg ; and there are certain so- 



infusonuE, or •' . ° ' . i ti i 



monad, with called flagellate infusoria so much like low 

 lia e ill led jilaiits (sucli as the red snow, or Protococcus), 

 Grea'tiy mag- in the fomi, deportment, mode of reproduc- 

 "^*'^'^' tion, and appearance of the spores, that even 



now it is possible that certain organisms placed among them 

 are plants. It is only by a study of the connecting links 

 between these lowest organisms leading up to what are un- 

 doubted animals or jilants that we are enabled to refer these 

 beings to their jwoper kingdom. 



As a rule, plants have no special organs of digestion or 

 circulation, and nothing approaching to a nervous system. 

 Most plants absorb inorganic food, such as carbonic acid 

 gas, water, nitrate of ammonia, and some phosphates, silica, 

 etc. ; all of these substances being taken up in minute quan- 

 tities. Low fungi live on dead animal matter, and promote 

 the process of putrefaction and decay, but the food of these 



