46 MARVELS OF POXD-LIFE. 



cover, and press it gently on the walls of our cell. 

 A few drops of superfluous water escape, and we have 

 the cell quite full, and the cover held tight by force 

 of the capillary attraction between the water and 

 the glass. 



The polyp deposited in one of these water cages 

 is then transferred to the stage of the microscope, 

 and its proceedings watched. At first it looks like 

 a shapeless mass of apple-green jelly. Soon, how- 

 ever, the tail end of the creature is fixed to the 

 glass, the body elongates, and the tentacles (in this 

 case eight) expand something after the manner of 

 the leaves of a graceful palm. 



By accident two small Water Fleas were imprisoned 

 with the polyp, and one (a shrimp-like looking 

 creature, carrying behind her a great bag of eggs^) 

 came into contact with the tentacles, and seemed 

 paralysed for a time. The hydra made no attempt 

 to convey the captive to its mouth, but held it 

 tight until another Water Flea, a round merry little 

 fellow, (Chydorus spliopricusj came to the rescue, 

 and assisted Canthocamptvs to escape by tugging 

 at her tail. This friendly action may not have been 

 prompted by the intelligence which seemed to suggest 

 it, but those who have kept tame soldier-crabs and 

 prawns in an aquarium, will not be indisposed to 

 attribute to the crustaceans more brains than they 

 liave usually credit for. It must, however, be con- 



