C 43 S 3 
Eor the poetical defcriptions of fome late fyftema* 
tical authors have tended rather to confufe than ex- 
plain thefe matters to our ideas ; for inftance, they 
call thefe bodies, that rife up like a fpike with many 
mouths, a vegetating ftem, and their mouths, which 
are formed like fo many polypes, flowers ; though 
with thefe fuppofed flowers, they evidently feize their 
food, by ftretching out their claws (which they call 
the petals) to convey it to their mouths, that are in 
the center of each, to fwaliow it, digeft it, and re- 
turn the non-nutritive parts back again by the fame 
way. Can this then be called a vegetative life ? 
But happily this animal of your Lordfhip’s is 
large enough for difledtion ; and in that hate difco- 
vers to us, not only mufcles and tendons, but a fto- 
mach to digeft, and inteftines to fecrete, proper nou- 
rifhment for the fupport and increafe of itfelf and its 
progeny ; which I am perfwaded is the ftrongeft 
proof that has yet appeared to convince the learned 
world, that zoophytes are true animals, and in no 
part vegetable ; and that the Royal Society are highly 
obliged to your Lordfhip for this moft valuable ac- 
quifition in natural hiftory, as well as he who has 
the honour to be, 
My Lord, 
Your Lordfhip’s moft devoted, 
and much obliged humble fervant 
Gray’s-Inn, 
Aug. 1 7, 1767, 
K kk 2 Th« 
John Ellis. 
