242 
CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS. 
At length it casts off its skin, and appears in another form without 
limbs. It neither takes nourishment, moves, nor gives any signs 
of life; this is the chrysalis. In process of time, by examining it 
closely, the imperfect form of the butterfly may be seen through the 
envelope; this it soon bursts, and a perfect butterfly appears. When 
about to pass intcf the chrysalis state, of which they appear to have 
warning, the insect selects some place where it may repose safely 
during its temporary death.* The silk-worm spins a silken web for 
a shroud to wrap itself in, and from this all our silks are made. 
Radiated Animals. 
Fig. 158. 
Class X, Zoophites , or animal plants. Here we find the lowest 
beings in the animal kingdom. Some of the orders of this class 
contain animals which have neither heart, brains, nerves, nor any 
apparent means of breathing. These are sometimes called animal 
plants ; many of them, as the corals , are fixed to rocks, and change 
place. The term coral includes under it many species; the red co¬ 
ral used for ornaments, is the most beautiful. The substance of co¬ 
ral, when subjected to chemical analysis, is found to consist chiefly 
of carbonate of lime; the hard crust which envelops the animal 
substance, is an excretion formed by it in the same way as the shells 
of the oyster and lobster are produced, or as nails grow upon the 
fingers and toes of the human body. The quantity of this carbon¬ 
ate of lime, elaborated by the little coral animal, is truly wonderful; 
islands are formed, and harbours blocked up by it. Fig. 158, a, rep¬ 
resents a branching coral; the dots show the apertures by which the 
animal receives its nourishment. Some of the zoophites are fixed 
by a kind of root, to the bottom of the sea; some, as the sea-nettle , 
which appears like the segment of a circle, are carried about by the 
motion of the waters, without any voluntary motion, as are also the 
sea-daisy , sea-marygold , and the sea-car nation, so named from an 
apparent resemblance to those plants. We find here the sea-fan , the 
sea-pen , and the madrepore , the latter of which are often thrown to¬ 
gether in vast quantities. 
* May not this be considered as a lesson to man to anticipate and provide for the 
change in his existence, which, his bodily infirmities and daily observation teach him, 
is to be his own lot? 
Class 10th—Description of zoophites—Corals—Various kinds of zoophites. 
