60 MULTIPLICATION OF THE HYDRA. 



divisions will be followed by similar results ; and so 

 many additions may be made to one, by portions of 

 others, as fully to warrant the appropriation of the 

 name of hydra, first given to an imaginary and 

 many -headed being. 



Our countryman, Baker, conducted many experi- 

 ments of this kind in common with Trembley. 

 Under their observation, no fewer than forty hydras 

 resulted from as many portions. Every part of the 

 animal, excepting perhaps the arms, which failed in 

 their case, is thus capable of forming a perfect 

 hydra. According to Baker, " What is still more 

 extraordinary, polyps produced in this manner grow 

 much larger, and are far more prolific in the way of 

 their natural increase, than those which are never 

 cut. It is very common, when a polyp is divided 

 transversely, to see a young one push out from one 

 or other of the parts, and sometimes from both of 

 them, in a very few hours after the operation has 

 been performed ; and particularly from the tail part 

 two or three are frequently protruded in different 

 places and in different times, long before that part 

 acquires a new head, and consequently while it can 

 take in no fresh nourishment to supply them with, 

 and yet the young ones proceeding from it, under 

 these disadvantages, thrive as fast and seem as 

 vigorous as those produced by perfect and uncut 

 hydras." 



The extraordinary increase of these creatures h^s 

 a strong resemblance to that of vegetables, and may 



