INTRODUCTION. XIII 
pores, not. by roots, as we learn from Fuci. 
Zoophytes, are, many of them covered with 
a stony coat, the Creator has been pleased that 
l ‘ le y should receive nourishment by their naked 
lj °\vers. He has furnished each with a pore, 
' v hich we call a mouth. All living beings enjoy 
5i °nie motion. The Zoophytes mostly live in the 
Perfectly undisturbed abyss of the oceau, they 
( -' a nnot therefore partake of that motion which 
P'ees and herbs receive from the agitation of the 
Ulr - Hence the Creator has granted them a 
Nervous system, that they may spontaneously 
} ll0 ve at pleasure.” Ellis, however, was not to 
,Je shaken, he still retained his previous opinions, 
^hich, with the exception of those on the cal- 
^l'eous Corallines, are those now received as 
{he. As these points will be considered when 
]e different orders pass in review, it will not be 
Pessary particularly to notice them here ; but a 
Car eful examination of the observations scattered 
. Qugh the following pages will certainly con- 
j l uce the student of the truth of Ellis’ views, 
o\vever plant-like the productions may seem. 
» The system of arrangement which has been 
°Uowed is the one proposed by Dr. G. Johnston 
l' 1 his work on British Zoophytes. In principle 
ls certainly more natural than any hitherto 
ft°P 0se< T though it is open to a few objections. 
f « v niaking a polype to be an essential character 
' the Class, it thereby excludes some animals 
still lower station, which by former Authors 
united together. In the systems of Linnaeus, 
tivier ail( j ii} any others the calcareous Corallines 
I* Sponges are arranged with the true Corals, 
c ^t in Johnston’s they are excluded. The cal- 
h'eo Us Corallines are, however, now generally 
j ( fitted to be purely vegetable; but though of 
e > some doubt has been expressed about the 
