19 RAMBLES AND REVERIES. 



respectable size compared with the creatures we 

 have already been looking at. We must treat this 

 animal with great care, lest in arranging it for the 

 microscope we should despoil it of all its beauty. 

 At first it looks like a mere speck of greenish jelly. 

 But wait a moment, and you will see it protrude its 

 tentacles from the lengthening body and throw them 

 out like the graceful leaves that surmount the 

 beautiful palm. 



Ms? 



Fio. 48. Hydra mridis. 



We must just say a word or two respecting the 

 place which this wonderful creature occupies in the 

 animal kingdom, for nothing is more interesting 

 or instructive to the student of zoology than to find 

 out the similarities or affinities between the various 

 creatures that he is trying to understand. 



The Hydra is one of the so-called fresh-water 

 polypes which really means a many-footed animal. 

 Properly speaking, it applies only to corals, but is 



