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whether such a Club or Society exists in his neighbourhood； and to join
it forthwith； certain that … if his experience be at all like mine … he will
gain most pleasant information and most pleasant acquaintances； and
pass most pleasant days and evenings； among people whom he will be
glad to know； and whom he never would have known save for the new …
and now； I hope； rapidly spreading … freemasonry of Natural History。
Meanwhile； I hope … though I dare not say I trust … to see the day
when the boys of each of our large schools shall join … like those of
Marlborough and Clifton … the same freemasonry； and have their own
Naturalists' Clubs； nay more； when our public schools and universities
shall awake to the real needs of the age； and … even to the curtailing of
the time usually spent in not learning Latin and Greek … teach boys the
rudiments at least of botany； zoology； geology； and so forth； and when
the public opinion； at least of the refined and educated； shall consider it
as ludicrous … to use no stronger word … to be ignorant of the commonest
facts and laws of this living planet； as to be ignorant of the rudiments of
two dead languages。 All honour to the said two languages。 Ignorance
of them is a serious weakness； for it implies ignorance of many things
else； and indeed； without some knowledge of them； the nomenclature of
the physical sciences cannot be mastered。 But I have got to discover
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that a boy's time is more usefully spent； and his intellect more
methodically trained； by getting up Ovid's Fasti with an ulterior hope of
being able to write a few Latin verses； than in getting up Professor
Rolleston's 〃Forms of Animal Life；〃 or any other of the excellent
Scientific Manuals for beginners； which are now； as I said； happily so
numerous。
May that day soon come； and an old dream of mine； and of my
scientific friends； be fulfilled at last。
And so I end this little book； hoping； even praying； that it may
encourage a few more labourers to go forth into a vineyard； which those
who have toiled in it know to be full of ever…fresh health； and wonder
and simple joy； and the presence and the glory of Him whose name is
LOVE。
APPENDIX。
PLATE I。
ZOOPHYTA。 POLYZOA。
THE forms of animal life which are now united in an independent
class； under the name Polyzoa； so nearly resemble the Hydroid
Zoophytes in general form and appearance that a casual observer may
suppose them to be nearly identical。 In all but the more recent works；
they are treated as distinct indeed； but still included under the general
term 〃ZOOPHYTES。〃 The animals of both groups are minute；
polypiform creatures； mostly living in transparent cells； springing from
the sides of a stem which unites a number of individuals in one common
life； and grows in a shrub…like form upon any submarine body； such as a
shell； a rock； a weed； or even another polypidom to which it is
parasitically attached。 Each polype； in both classes； protrudes from and
retreats within its cell by an independent action； and when protruded
puts forth a circle of tentacles whose motion round the mouth is the
means of securing nourishment。 There are； however； peculiarities in
the structure of the Polyzoa which seem to remove them from
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Zoophytology to a place in the system of nature more nearly connected
with Molluscan types。 Some of them come so near to the compound
ascidians that they have been termed； as an order； 〃Zoophyta ascidioida。〃
The simplest form of polype is that of a fleshy bag open at one end；
surmounted by a circle of contractile threads or fingers called tentacles。
The plate shows； on a very minute scale； at figs。 1； 3； and 6； several of
these little polypiform bodies protruding from their cells。 But the
Hydra or Fresh…water Polype has no cell； and is quite unconnected with
any root thread； or with other individuals of the same species。 It is
perfectly free； and so simple in its structure； that when the sac which
forms its body is turned inside out it will continue to perform the
functions of life as before。 The greater part； however； of these
Hydraform Polypes； although equally simple as individuals； are
connected in a compound life by means of their variously formed
POLYPIDOM； as the branched system of cells is termed。 The Hydroid
Zoophytes are represented in the first plate by the following examples。
HYDROIDA。
SERTULARIA ROSEA。 PL。 I。 FIG。 6。
A species which has the cells in pairs on opposite sides of the central
tube； with the openings turned outwards。 In the more enlarged figure is
seen a septum across the inner part of each cell which forms the base
upon which the polype rests。 Fig。 6 B indicates the natural size of the
piece of branch represented； but it must be remembered that this is only
a small portion of the bushy shrub。
CAMPANULARIA SYRINGA。 PL。 I。 FIG。 8。
This Zoophyte twines itself parasitically upon a species of
Sertularia。 The cells in this species are thrown out at irregular intervals
upon flexible stems which are wrinkled in rings。 They consist of
lengthened； cylindrical； transparent vases。
CAMPANULARIA VOLUBILIS。 PL。 I。 FIG。 9。
A still more beautiful species； with lengthened foot…stalks ringed at
each end。 The polype is remarkable for the protrusion and contractile
power of its lips。 It has about twenty knobbed tentacula。
POLYZOA。
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Among Polyzoa the animal's body is coated with a membraneous
covering； like that of the Tunicated Mollusca； but which is a
continuation of the edge of the cell； which doubles back upon the body
in such a manner that when the animal protrudes from its cell it pushes
out the flexible membrane just as one would turn inside out the finger of
a glove。 This oneness of cell and polype is a distinctive character of
the group。 Another is the higher organization of the internal part