406 RADIATA. 



between them, the prisoner was expelled through the 

 mouth safe and sound. 



But the most remarkable circumstance in the 

 history of these animals is their power of reproduc- 

 tion, the discovery of which, about a hundred years 

 ago, completely electrified the scientific world. It is 

 found that the means which would ensure the instant 

 death of most animals, applied to these, communicates 

 and multiplies life without limit. For, if a Hydra 

 be cut into pieces, each individual fragment, however 

 small, will speedily become a perfect animal in all 

 respects like the original, the parts which were 

 defective being^produced in their proper situations. 

 If with fine scissors we slit one half down, the result 

 will be a Hydra with two mouths, each surrounded 

 with the usual number of tentacles ; if these be again, 

 and again, and again divided, each division will cause 

 new heads, thus forming a realization of the fable 

 of the Lernean Hydra. Every one of the tentacles 

 of this new-formed monster will capture food, and all 

 the mouths will devour it. But this is not all. 

 They may actually be grafted. If two be cut across, 

 and the fore part of one be applied to the hind part 

 of the other, and slightly pressed to it for a few 

 moments, the two parts will unite, and form a per- 

 fect Polype, without leaving a scar. One may be 

 thrust down into the stomach of another, in which 

 condition they will unite and form a Polype, with a 

 double number of tentacles. They may even be 

 turned inside out, like a glove, without injury, and 

 in this state will remain ; that which was the external 



