The Zoophytes. 311 
almost entire absence or the very great rarity of Zoo- 
phytic life in Guiana. 
So far as at present ascertained, the fresh water Polyp 
or Hydra, is the only denizen of the fresh-water canals 
and trenches, though it is to be expe6ted that the fresh- 
water Medusa will some day be obtained, since it has 
hitherto only been observed in Europe in hot-house 
tanks that contain the Victoria regia. Probably the 
fresh water Sponge will also be discovered in Guiana, 
since spongy masses are said to be found on rocks in the 
higher parts of the rivers, in positions that would be 
favourable for their existence. No true coral forming 
Zoophyte or sea-anemone, has so far been met with on 
the Coasts of Guiana, and it is extremely unlikely, from 
the nature of the water, that such forms exist here. 
One marine Zoophyte, however, and that one of very 
special interest, occurs in considerable numbers on our 
coasts, namely, the well-known and widely distributed 
oceanic jelly-fish, the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia.J* 
This Zoophyte is found floating on the open sea, and 
often at the mouth of the river. It is extremely con- 
spicuous owing to the vivid tints of red, purple and blue 
which play upon that portion of the animal which pro- 
* It is perhaps advisable to point out here, that, in Dalton's 
History of Guiana Vol. 2, page 325, by some incomprehensible slip, the 
Portuguese man-of-war has been confounded with the conspicuous 
paper Nautilus ( Argonauta argoj, which is one of the members of 
the class Cephalopoda, the highest group of Molluscs. The lowly 
organised Zoophyte, the Portuguese man-of-war, not only has no 
affinity whatever in structure to the highly organised Nautilus, but there 
is not even the faintest resemblance in form ; though, owing to the 
brilliance of their colours, seen from a distance floating on the sea, the 
two forms could with difficulty be distinguished. 
