ZOOPHYTA BRIT ANNIC A. 
ORDER III. 
Z. HELIANTHOIDA. 
Character. 
Polypes separate or compound, free or attached, fosculous ; the 
body regular with a circular periphery , contractile , internally 
divided into numerous spaces by perpendicular muscular septa : 
mouth superior and central , encircled with one or more series 
of tubular tentacula : stomach membranous : anus 0 : ovaries 
and caeca placed in the septa between the stomach and skin. 
Observations. 
I borrow the name of this order from Latreille, * but give to 
it a wider application than it has in the classification of that il- 
lustrious naturalist, that it may embrace the madrepores and 
starred stones, which the observations of Le Sueur, confirmed 
as they have been by subsequent voyagers, demonstrate to be 
the products of zoophytes similar, in all essential points, to the 
naked Actiniae. The order thus corresponds to the class 
“ Zoantha” of De Blainville, — a name which has the claim of 
priority, and might have been adopted by me, had not its con- 
junction with zoophyta appeared inappropriate, as involving a 
tautology. The term preferred expresses the resemblance which 
the animals it designates have to the compound or syngenesious 
flowers, — a resemblance which has been very generally re- 
marked, and the source of the name — Sea Anemonies — by which 
the typical species are known in this country. When speaking 
of these Ellis says, — 64 their tentacles, being disposed in regu- 
lar circles, and tinged with a variety of bright lively colours, 
very nearly represent the beautiful petals of some of our most 
Fam. du Regne Animal, p. 535. 
