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86 
or vegetable nature. The transparent joints of the 
zygnema are filled with a green reproductive matter 
composed of brilliant sporules arranged with beautt- 
ful symmetry in spires, but when they become sepa~ 
rated, or in the scientific phrase disarticulated, their 
separate parts have distinct powers of voluntary 
motion: they unite and disunite, and finally com- 
bine into a simple and uniform being. We find 
properties here which would jastily us in viewing 
them as a link between the animal and vegetable 
i pesevine e endowed with the character of both. 
We take another example and ask in which kingdom 
are we to station the curious poly physa, a most decid=~ 
ed polyp aecording to one set of naturalists, among 
whom we name De Blainville ; aa equally certain 
plant, if we are to trust another set, among whom 
occur the names of Agardh, and Gaudichaud, the: 
last of whom found it and described it. ‘It grows 
in thick tufts to the shells which are thrown ashore 
upon the barren coasts of New Holland. Bach 
individiial consists of a fistula, capillary, greenish 
stalk about an inch or an inch and a half long, ex-" 
pan 
which it is fixed. At the end, it bears from fifteen 
to sighteen sacs, which are entire, rounded at the 
end, and slightly attenuated at the base; each 
catifains a multitude of little round green globules, 
which finally expand and break through the thin 
case in which they are included. ‘They are filled 
with a greén unctuous matter, and the calour of the 
parent body is entirely due to their presence, for 
when they have all escaped frem their sacs, the - 
mother body is perfectly colourless.” 

iding at the bas¢ into-a sort of root-like claw, by 
