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H. F. THACHER. 



two thirds of the time required for the complete disappearance 

 of the polyp ; sometimes the digestive current may, at this stage, 

 distend the degenerating polyps and delay absorption for several 

 hours. The usual time required is from six to twelve hours, but 

 under the same conditions it may last from one to two days. 

 The size of the structure left in the cup becomes slowly less and 



D 



less, and at last the tiny ball of matter is drawn into the stem. 

 I examined the living material carefully for signs of the breaking 

 of the protoplasmic threads that stretch from the ccenosarc to 

 the perisarc just below the cup, but I was unable in most cases 

 to find any trace of it, until the last stage. At that time the 

 strands break and the ccenosarc is drawn out in a fine thread. 

 The protoplasm has been under a strain for the greater part of 



