THE HYDRA 



85 



swallow large victims. Occasionally this curious animal 

 wanders off, and may do so either by sliding along on its foot, 

 or by continual somersaults, each one making some alteration 

 in its position. When so engaged the hydra at every revo- 

 lution stands once on its tentacles, foot upwards, and in this 

 position reminds one forcibly of the days when little vulgar 

 boys took up a similar position for the price of a copper coin. 



The word foot, it must be explained, is merely a name for the 

 end distant from the tentacles. 



The hydra is altogether a mystery ; firstly one and the same 

 creature will occasionally turn into a female, and lay eggs in 

 the right and proper manner. And then should food become 



HYDRA 



1. Group of hydra. 1 Thread capsule not in use (lash curled up). 

 3. Thread capsule in use. 



a matter of " Wait and be patient and be thankful for what you 

 receive," the females " that were " quietly change into herma- 

 phrodites (male and female in one). It may happen that times 

 get worse, when it is a matter of wait without receiving, and 

 on this auspicious occasion the hermaphrodites, possibly 

 ignorantly thinking that " two sexes in one may mean more 

 food required," sedately change once more into males. But 

 this is not all ; the hydra, if it were large enough, would be 

 termed " the vivisectcrs' ideal," for cut off a piece, and the 

 "cut off" grows the missing part, whilst the "cut from" be- 

 comes complete. And a hydra can be cut into very many 

 pieces and each piece will grow into a perfect specimen. 



There are three British species ; H. viridis is probably the 

 commonest. It is green owing to the chlorophyll it contains, 



