137 



CORALLINAD^E. 



The productions embraced by this division of our subject, 

 the "Articulated calcareous Corallines of Ellis," are essen- 

 tially distinct from those previously described. In the 

 foregoing Orders the presence of & polype has been deemed 

 an indispensable requisite to their admission among Zoo- 

 phytes ; here however, after many examinations of the 

 different species in their natural states, at different seasons 

 of the year, and under a great diversity of weather, no polype 

 has ever yet been discovered ; consequently the calling of 

 those productions Zoophytes is an error, as the arrangement 

 now stands. Though destitute of polypes or any signs of 

 animal life, many Authors still consider them in the light of 

 animal existences ; while others as zealously contend that 

 they belong to the vegetable kingdom. In the early age of 

 Natural History, these as well as the polypous zoophytes 

 were considered vegetables. Ray speaking of the productions 

 now under consideration, says " Corallina est plantse genus 

 in aquis nascens, tenuissime divisum ex partibus constans 

 articulatione quadatn veluti conjunctis." This opinion was 

 combated by Ellis, and from his superior knowledge he 

 overthrew the reasonings of his opponents, though he failed 

 in establishing their auimal character as firmly as he had 

 done that of the others. His views, however were generally 

 received as correct, and Linnaeus, who knew Ellis and in the 

 study of zoophytes seems to have been his follower, though 

 at first an advocate for the vegetable nature of all zoophytes, 

 yet embraced the doctrine of the animal character of the 

 polypous species and eventually of these calcareous coral- 

 lines. He says; " Corallinas ad Regnum Animale pertinere 

 ex substantia earum calcarea constat, cum omnem calcem 

 Animalium esse productum verrissimum sit." There never 

 was any pretension to the discovery of a polype ; hence 

 its animal character depends on its calcareous structure. 

 Cuvier's opinion appears to have been similar to that of Eilis, 

 since he classes the articulated Corallines with Crisia, 

 Acamarchis, Farcimia, and Flustra, between which there 

 is not the least similarity except in the calcareous structure. 

 Lamouroux also includes them in his work on Corallines; 

 he sa^s, however that he never saw the polypes, though he 

 supposes the animal to be diffused in the form of retractile 

 filaments ; this is however purely ideal. In the Millepora 

 polymorpha such a supposition might seem to receive a 

 confirmation from a cursory observer, since it is not at all 



