178 HISTORY OP BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



in length, it began to get tentacula. Till it got tentacula, it 

 was altogether dependent on the mother for support ; and 

 it could be seen that the food which was introduced into 

 the stomach of the parent, made its way at the point of 

 junction into the stomach of the little one. As soon, how- 

 ever, as it had got tentacula, it caught prey for its own 

 support, and helped also to support the mother ; for by the 

 application of a lens, he saw that the red worm, for in- 

 stance, which it caught and devoured, passed, in part, the 

 point of junction, and entered into the stomach of the 

 parent. Here the young have a lesson taught them, that 

 they should early learn habits of active usefulness, and that 

 they should seek to add to the comfort of their parents ; 

 but though this is taught, truth constrains us to confess 

 that the young polype does not always willingly practise the 

 duty ; for mother and daughter sometimes lay hold on the 

 same prey, and it is only by superior might that the little 

 one is forced to yield it. When the young one has got its 

 full equipment of tentacula, its body becomes attenuated at 

 the base, where it is joined to the older one, so that they are 

 connected only by a slender point, and by mutual consent 

 they seem disposed to part company. To effect this they 

 fasten themselves by their tentacula to different parts of the 



