The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-07

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
Compiled for the Democratic AdrOcate
by ]. S. O.


Throughout the Australasian seas there
is scarcely league without coral reel,
rock, or island, faised from the bottom OF
the sea BY marine polypi, though the sea
itself is fathomless. Some are in the deep
water. others with few rocks above the
surface. Some in islands, but without
vegetation. Others with few weeds on the
higher parts, and some covered with large
timber, though tho sea is unfathomble
close to the rock. Itappears that the birds
settle as soon as the reef rises above the
water. and their dung, floating wreck, with
seed and cocoa-nuts, lay the foundation Of
vegetation. Capt. Flinders conceiyes that
in due time, the whole Of that sea will be
united in one extensive continent. The
whole Of the eastern coastof New Holland
is filed with corals Flinders sailed $40
miles in fourteen days before he could
disentangle himself. On landing on a
newly formed one, he found wheat-sheafs,
mush rooms, stays horns, cabbage leaves,
and other forms, growing under water.
These creations arise from the insects con-
tiuually raising wall to leeward higher
and higher, as a shelter from the wind and
waves.
There are three celebrated coral fisher
les in the Mediterranean, but corals are
procured in many seas. Tho best is pro
cured in submarine caverns. 1t is enlarg-
ed by the insects which generate it, like
vegetables. 1t is ten. years in attaining its
full height Of a foot. There are nine
shades Of red, and several Of white coral
1t grows in depths from 60 to 600 feet
In growing it preserves an exact perpen-
dicular direction. In the South Seas the
little animal raises the bases of islands Of
this hard material, carrying it nearly 70
the surface Of the water, forming at first
dangerous shoals, which ultimately become
fertile islands.
Dracunculi are thin long worms which
in very hot countries, breed and grow il
the muscular parts Of the body, to the
length Of four or five yards.
There are forty species of animal ane
mones or actinie. They are beautiful il
structure aud wonderful in their economy
They are Of cylindrical figure, or pear Of
funnel-shaped, but often like marigolC
or rose. They are found firmly fixed OF
the rocks washed by the sea. They swell
or contract at pleasure. They devour fish
crabs, &c. as well as flesh. They spreaC
their numerous arms, or tentacula, and j
one seizes any prey, the rest unite in Sc
curing it, and carrying it to the mouth
They are hermaphrodite, and cast thei
young from their mouth; and they otter
divide and become two animals; and so i
cut into several parts, which, if torn away
the very shreds become perfect actinia
They cannot live in fresh water. The
have sensitive feelings, shrink in case o
danger, and enjoy the light, but no eye
have been traced. They can detach them
selves to float in the sea.
Sponges are believed to consist of excl
table flesh, full Of small mouths, by which
they absorb and eject water.
The phosphoric light seen in the oceal
is caused by innumerable quantities o
phosphoric insects, and is sometimes s.
intense us to make the waves appear ik
red-hot balls.
There are two classes of animalcula
seventeen genera, and 378 species, Tn
first class, Of ten genera, consists Of worm
ia various forms. The second are worm
like, with additions; and most of them ar
visible only with the microscope.
They arc produced by mixture of variou
substances in fluids; and by some suppose
TO be spontaneous, while others have re
lerred their origin to various causes.
Hempseed, rice, lentils, peas, pepper
beet-root, blighted corn, &c. all yield va
rious kinds on being macerated in water
and however much boiled, the smalle
kinds appear Vinegar, too. produces eel
and all animal substances in putresceuc
display them. There are none in fresh raj
water or pure spring water. Sea water
when used for the solution, produces ther
in swarms.
The itch, according to william, is cause
Ivy an insect, white, with eight reddis
.egs, to the four hind ones Of which
appended bristle. Itmay be distinguish
ed with the microscope in the vesicles il
the joints, which accompany the disorder
On the same authority we learn that mos
Of the diseases of the skin are occasione,
by other insects
Lewenhoeck saw hundreds of animalcu
lac in the space of grain of sand, and h
says ten thousand, but its now suspectet
that he saw the ultimate motions Of tn
atoms Of gas and not organized beings. A
drop of water contains hundreds, all in ex
tremc activity, swimming or crawling viii
freedom and purpose. They appear I,
subsist on the atoms of the infusion, an,
some prey on others. Some have the form
of flying dragons with all their parts, 9th
ers are like polype, some like worms, other
with many legs like insects, while other
have machinery Of wheels which turn
create vortexes, and apparently cnabl,
them to collect food Some are like plants
with branches, each terminated with al
animaleule, and the trunk and branchei
alternately draw in and spread. 0ther
are like hydatids, and have their genera
tions in the skin. And all appear to be
hermaphrodites.