THE GftEEN POLYPE. 345 



'' fl- - -....: -r 



Of an extremely predacious nature. 



fields, especially in the months of April and May. 

 It affixes itself to the under parts of leaves, and 

 to the stalks of such vegetables as happen to 

 grow immersed in the same water. The animal 

 consists of a long tubular body, the head of which 

 is furnished with eight and sometimes ten long 

 arms or tenacula that surround the mouth. It is 

 capable of contracting its body in a very sudden 

 manner when disturbed, so as to appear only like 

 a roundish green spot; and, when the danger is 

 over, it again extends itself as before. 



It is of an extremely predacious nature, and 

 feeds on the various species of small worms, and 

 other water animals that happen to approach. 

 When any animal of this kind passes near the 

 polype, it suddenly catches it with its arms, and, 

 dragging it to its mouth, swallows it by degrees, 

 much in the same manner as a snake swallows a 

 frog. Two of them may sometimes be seen in 

 the act of seizing the same worm at different 

 ends, and dragging it in opposite directions with 

 great force. It often happens that, while one is 

 swallowing its respective end, the other is also 

 employed in the same manner; and thus they 

 continue swallowing each his part, until their 

 mouths meet together: they then rest each for 

 some time in this situation, till the worm breaks 

 between them, and each goes off with his share. 

 But it often happens that a seemingly more dan- 

 gerous combat ensues, when the mouth of both 

 are thus joined together upon one common prey: 



VOL. vi. NO. 47. % x 



