HYDRA. 83 



much larger and higher in the scale of life than 

 themselves and the slow yet inevitable fate at- 

 tending their movements, are all so many dread- 

 inspiring elements. If to all this is added their 

 extreme minuteness, combined with so much power, 

 there arises almost a feeling of awe in contemplat- 

 ing the tiny creature, and we see that, if not the 

 monster its fabled name implies, yet it is somewhat 

 near akin to it and its larger marine relatives of 

 which such tales of horror are sometimes related. 



The Hydrce inhabit ponds, ditches, and slowly 

 running streams, and H. vulyaris may be found in 

 great abundance in the canals around London, 

 attached to algae and other fresh- water plants. The 

 common weed Anacharis, which is so prolific as to 

 have become a nuisance in our streams, is sometimes 

 covered with them. At almost any time, if one picks 

 up a little of this weed from the Eegent's Canal in a 

 bottle of water, one or more of these creatures will 

 almost be sure to be seen depending from it; and if 

 kept in a clear glass jar with clean water, the seven 

 or eight arms will soon be seen stretching out in 

 search of food. These arms will sometimes expand 

 to a length of several inches. 



