NATUBALIST'S CABINET. 



Wonderful properties. 



the largest polype then gapes and swallows his 

 antagonist; but, what is most wonderful, the ani- 

 mal thus swallowed seems to be rather a gainer 

 by the misfortune. After it has lain in the con- 

 queror's body for about an hour it issues unhurt, 

 and often in possession of the prey that had been 

 the original cause of contention. The remains 

 of the animals on which the polype feeds, are 

 evacuated at the mouth, the only opening in the 

 body. It is capable of swallowing a worm of 

 thrice its own size: this circumstance, though ife 

 may appear incredible, is easily understood whem 

 we consider that the body of the polype is ex- 

 tremely extensile, and is dilated on such occasi- 

 ons to a surprising degree. 



The species are multiplied for the most part 

 by vegetation, one or two, or even more young 

 ones emerging gradually from the sides of the 

 parent animal ; and these young are frequently 

 again prolific before they drop off: so that it is 

 no uncommon thing to see two or three genera- 

 tions at once on the same polype. 



This wonderful creature may be cut in every 

 direction that fancy may suggest, and even into 

 very minute divisions, and not only the parent 

 stock will remain uninjured, but every section 

 will become a perfect animal. Even when turned 

 inside out it suffers no material injury; for, in 

 this state, it will soon begin to take food, and to 

 perform all its other natural functions. Two 

 transverse sections brought huo contact will 



