442 FOSSIL CORALLINE BODIES. 
of Creative care, in the lower regions of organic 
life, than is forced upon us by the contemplation 
of those highest combinations of animal mecha- 
nism, which occur in that paragon of animal 
organization, the corporeal frame of Man. 
SECTION II. 
FOSSIL REMAINS OF POLYPES. 
It was stated in our Chapter on Strata of the 
Transition Series, that some of their most abun- 
dant animal remains are fossil Corals or Poly- 
paries. These were derived from an order of 
animals long considered to be allied to marine 
plants, and designated by the name of Zoophytes ; 
they are usually fixed, like plants, to all parts 
of the bottom of the sea in warm climates which 
are not too deep to be below the influence of 
solar heat and light, and in many species, send 
forth branches, assuming in some degree the form 
and aspect of vegetables. These coralline bodies 
are the production of Polypes, nearly allied to 
the common Actinia, or Sea Anemone of our own 
shores. See PI. 54. Fig. 4. Some of them, e. g. 
the Caryophyllia, see PI. 54. Figs. 9, 10. are soli- 
tary, each forming its own independent stem and 
support ; others are gregarious, or confluent ; liv- 
ing together on the same common base or Poly- 
