ZOOPHYTES. 747 



assume their well-known form. Experiments were made on a species of Chrysaora, by 

 Sir John Dalyell, with the following result : When first sent into the world, the young 

 Medusse were little flat, worm-like creatures, too minute to be examined by any except 

 the highest powers of the microscope. By degrees, these tiny beings settle down to one 

 spot and affix themselves, the body lengthens, arms begin to be shown, and alter a while 

 the strange creature is developed into the being known as the Hydra tula. 



Satisfied apparently with its condition, the Hydra remains in the same spot for some 

 time, and produces a number of young Hydras, which sprout like buds from its sides, and, 

 when separated, resemble their parent. Here we might naturally imagine to be the end 

 of its history, for with almost all animals, when a being is able to produce young it is 

 considered as having attained the utmost development of which it is capable. The Hydra, 

 however, has yet other phases through which to pass. Towards spring, its body becomes 

 much lengthened and wrinkled, so as to form a number of folds, just as if a series of 

 threads had been tied tightly round it, one below the other. The upper rings now rapidly 

 expand and the folds deepen, until the animal resembles a number of saucers regularly 

 increasing in size, laid upon each other. The edges of each saucer are developed into two- 

 cleft rays, and in this condition the animal proves to be the beautiful zoophyte discovered 

 by M. Sars, and called the Strobila, 



These are indeed strange vicissitudes in life, changes more marvellous than even 

 those wrought by water and magic words in the old days when Haroun Alraschid ruled 

 the faithful There is yet more to come. The uppermost and largest disc or saucer now 

 lengthens its rays and assumes the form of an unmistakeable, though shallow-disked 

 Medusa. Its arms rapidly gain strength, the attachment becomes hourly weaker, until 

 at last the whole disc is broken away, and floats into the wide sea in its new form. 



How wonderful is this phenomenon, and how full of interest is the study of animate 

 nature ! Here we have a being which first enters into active existence in a shape like 

 that of the infusorial animalcules ; then changing into a hydra, and while in this state 

 becoming the parent of a numerous offspring ; then developing into a Strobila ; and lastly 

 breaking up into a series of Medusae 



ZOOPHYTES. 



QUITTING the Acalephae, we come to the vast class of Zoophytes, or animal plants, so 

 called, because, though really belonging to the animal kingdom, many of them bear a 

 singularly close resemblance to vegetable forms. Their substance is always gelatinous 

 and fleshy, and round the entrance to the stomach are set certain tentacles, used in 

 catching prey and conveying it to the stomach. These tentacles are armed with myriads 

 of offensive weapons contained in little capsules, and capable of being discharged with 

 great force. Organs of sight, smell, taste, and hearing seem to be totally absent, though 

 it is possible that an extended sense of touch may compensate the creature for these 

 deficiencies. 



Without entering further into the constitution of these singular beings, we will 

 proceed to the examination of the various groups into which they have been divided. 



IN the family of the Lucernariadse, the tentacles are arranged in detached groups, a 

 peculiarity whereby the creatures may easily be recognised. These organs are placed 

 upon the outer edge of the membranous and expanded disc, in the centre of which is the 

 squared mouth. They are mostly found adherent, as may be seen by the illustration, by 

 a stem to some object, but they can swim with tolerable rapidity, their bodies pulsating like 

 those of the Medusae. None of them attain any great size, the largest being about one 

 inch in height. Pink is their usual colour. 



