Ad99998 04 045a/eng
Zoophyten und Thierpflanzen
Beschreibungstext eng
Worms. V. Vol. IV. No. 43., ZOOPHYTES., ‘n the'Ioweft degree of tlic Animal création staud the Polypuffes, -which are also called Zoophytes, because they form as it were, the link betweeu the animal and the vegetable Création. Many species of these water-animais live in strong téguments which they never quit. VVe are hère made acquainted with some of them., Fig. 1. The magnificent Tubular Coralline. (Tubularia magnifica.), The Tubulär-Coralline is a kind of gelatinous worm found in the fea as well as in rivers. It is provided with feathered arms and refis with its lower end in a horny tube. One of the largest and most beautiful species is the magnificent tubulär coralline which is represented in Fig. 1. It is met with in hollow rocks on différent isles of the YVeftIndies. The tubulär indented body terminâtes in a great quantity of red and white feelers or antennae which the worm, >\vlien ail around him is quiet, extends îike a starlike iîovver; but at the leaft danger it retracts its antennated tuft from above and draws back into its rock., \vlien ail around him is quiet, extends îike a starlike iîovver; but at the leaft danger it retracts its antennated tuft from above and draws back into its rock., Fig. 2. The Dead-Man's hand. (Alcyonium digitatum.), The dead maris hand or dead maris toc is a foft fpongy or corklike body whofe furface is füll of little openings, through which the polypuffes that inhabit it, come forth. The hère represented species which is found on the coasts of England, dérives its name from the likeness it has with a man's finget or toe. They are found upon différent objects as for instance that of the picture is refting upon au Oyfter. Their reddish-grey furface is covered with little octagonal stars, as it appears very diftinctly in (b) which is drawn after an enlarged scale; from these star-like openings the polypuffes issue. They have eight arms (c) which on both sides are feathered or provided with fhort fibres., Fig. 3. The Rugged Coralline. (Sertularia scruposa.), These Corallines consist of horny or stom husks which are knotted like branches and also inhabited by polypuffes. They constitute a very numerous race. The species which is represented in its natural size in Fig. 3. might at the first look very eafily bë taken for a little tender plant, but when enlarged or looked at with a microscope the whittish, stony, and knotted Iiusk appears. It is very fragile and divided in its infide into différent (‘mail cells which serve for habitation to a kind of small pohpuffes that come ont throughthe openings of ihe flat sides.
