82 HOURS WITH NATURE, 



" Let us hear something about these strange forms/^ 

 cried many almost in a chorus. 



"Well then," resumed Mr. W. "those weed-like 

 objects are 'Zoophytes or Plant-animals/ so called ow- 

 ing to their superficial resemblance to plants. They 

 are many-celled animals, most of which are immovably 

 fixed, forming tree-like colonies either in the sea or in 

 fresh water pools and jheels. Sponges and corals are 

 familiar examples of these Zoophytes." 



" Here is a new mystery ; I wonder what that mush- 

 room-like thing is !" 



" What ! a mushroom here ? I thought mushrooms 

 were vegetables." 



"And so they are." 



" It is a ' medusa,' just read the label there." 



"So the monster is captured and exhibited." 



" What do you mean." 



" I mean the fabled monster of ancient times whose 

 head was adorned with snakes instead of hair." 



"Oh I understand. Those thread-like filaments 

 hanging round its margin like a fringe resemble little 

 snakes, and that thing is called 'Medusa 7 from its sup- 

 posed resemblance to the head of the monster of that 

 name. At least I remember having read so somewhere." 



" You are indeed clever." 



" Small service is it to know the history of the name 

 of a particular object, and still less to see this wonderful 

 display of animal forms, unless they are viewed in rela- 

 tion to one another." 



