89 
common life, so in these zoophytes the little polypi, 
expanding from their cells for food, light, or aération, 
and shrinking back upon the agitation of the water, 
or withdrawal of the light, are so many animal- 
flowers which may be studied apart from the poly- 
piaria or permanent branches which they adorned.” 
(v.: Penny Cyclopedia, commenting on Trembley’s 
Deseriptions: Art: Polypi.) Without organs of 
sense, or provision for mntual offices, they are asso- 
ciated into compound beings, and multiply by the 
. process understood as gemmiparous, by the separa- 
tion of buds like a tree. 
The aciinie, not so associated though closely allie 
ed to the polypes, making near approach to the high- 
er group of tunicate mollusca, will arrest notice for 
a moment or two. These animal sea-flowers, more 
particularly bearing the names of anemones, mesem- 
bryanthemums, pinks, auriculas, daisies, sun-flowers, 
and marigolds, are cylindrical bodies, fleshy and soft, 
susceptible of contraction and dilatation. As their 
tentacula can be folded down into the centre aper* 
ture, and concealed under the outer envelope, when 
they are extended they have the appearance of 
opened blossoms, their floral character being increas- 
ed by the lively colours, with which they are emhel- 
lished. On the shores of temperate seas, in waters 
sustaining the varying warmth and cold of summer 
and winter, they exhibit the remarkable instinctive 
power of creeping np to the superficial ocean in sum- 
mer, and of descending to the profounder waters in 
winter. To effect these changes of place, they have 
