PLANT-ANIMALS 181 
not easy to draw a dividing line between the two 
kingdoms. It proved too great a problem for the 
scientists of the past; and even to-day there is a 
confusion and wrangling and differing of opinions 
as to where the line may be drawn. 
Moss-animals, which are plant-animals, repro- 
duce in two ways: one is by sprouting new buds, 
the other by laying eggs. The corals all belong 
to the plant-animal family. Notwithstanding their 
striking similarity to plants in colour, shape, form, 
and even in reproduction by budding, they are ani- 
mals, and also reproduce by laying eggs. There is 
one way, however, in which many moss-animals 
differ from the corals: that is in their form. Like 
the snail and the oyster, the body of the moss- 
animal consists of only a tiny sack containing a 
stomach; whereas the coral, if examined closely, 
shows a number of minute folders, or plates, all 
pointing from the edge to the centre, somewhat 
resembling the spikes of an umbrella. It, therefore, 
belongs to the jelly-fish family. Thus, while hav- 
ing these budding qualities, and grouping them- 
selves into plant-like colonies, the corals are really 
members of the animal family. 
Among the Alge are numerous plants, bril- 
liantly coloured: here are purples and blues, there 
are greens and oranges, yonder a bit of violet, yel- 
