CHAPTER XIII. 



ZOuniYTES. 



Scientific definition of a Zoophyte— Mr. Tugwell's definition— Classes of Zoophytes 

 — Hydraforms — Asteroids — Ilellanthoids — Insensibility of Zoophytes to dissection— 

 Hydra viridis — Turning a Hydra inside-out — Echinus — Starfish — Scrpuluj — Appear- 

 ance of an Anemone — Parts of an Anemone — Spike-cases — American species- 

 Actinia rapiformis — Actinia marginata — Actinia dianthus — Rapacity of Anemones 

 — Anemones seizing Men — A. coriaca; — A. dianthus— A. carneola— A. obtruncata 

 — A. sipunculoides — American species. 



What is a Zoophyte? This is a question that my reader 

 will be likely to ask — as it has bon by many persons. 

 In answer, allow me, first, to give the scientific defini- 

 tion of this creature, at the same time attempting to 

 make it clear to the unscientific reader. Mr. Qnackett, 

 in his Histology, says : " This word, zoophyte, literally 

 signifies animal-plant, and is a term very applicable to 

 certain groups of species, but not to all that have, from 

 time to time, been included in this order." As far as it 

 goes, this is all very well ; but do you, gentle reader, 

 think that you would be able to distinguish a zoophyte, 

 were you to see one, from this description ? It is true that 

 the word Zoophyte comes from the Greek words zoon, " an 

 animal," and phylon " a plant ;" but zoophytes are not 

 plants ; they arc animals, just as much as you or I arc, 



