72 POPULAR ILLUSTRATIONS OF 



swallowed ; after which the creature takes its post-prandial nap, 

 assuming the form of Fig. 91 (p. 71). 



The Hydra has no legs, but it can move from place to place not- 

 withstanding, for it is reasonable to expect that its hunting country 

 will require changing. In order to " progress" it assumes the form 

 shown in Fig. 93 (p. 71). But he is also one of the most cunning of 

 rascals, for, well knowing that he must have a bad name, he adopts 

 the following method of moving about, and, at the same time, of 

 coming unawares upon his victim. He allows the sucker end of his 



$6 i 



Fig. 94. Tentacle of Hydra magnified 140 diameters. 



Fig. 95." Thread cell," containing stinging organs, magnified 450 diameters. 



Fig. 96. The same, with the spines and filaments protruded, magnified 450 diameters. 



body (b, Fig. 90, p. 71) to become dry, in which condition it acts as a 

 float, and thus he moves about the water with the currents, aided 

 by any rowing power which his tentacles may possess. 



One of the modes by which this singular creature increases is 

 shown at Figs. 88 and 89 (p. 71), in which young ones are seen grow- 

 ing like the buds of a tree. In Fig. 89 a third generation is seen 

 springing from the bodies of the second, and throwing out their 

 feelers in search of food, just like their mother and grandmother, 

 to whom they still retain an " attachment." Their tentacles never 

 catch each other, but close instantly upon any unfortunate animal- 

 cule which ventures into such a dangerous country. Carpenter tells 

 us that-it is not unusual to see the parent and its young each get 

 hold of the opposite end of some small worm, and commence a 

 pulling fight for mastery. Strength, I presume, succeeds in the 



