442 



Marvels of the Universe 



acetic acid and allcalies single it out as a \-ery curious substance. So resisting, indeed, is the material 

 that if shrimps or prawns, for example, be softened out by treatment in various chemical solutions, 

 the original form of the little animal is elegantly and perfectly maintained notwithstanding. 



There are an almost endless number of animals belonging to this group, and some have different 

 habits from others. Their formation, too, varies, some having eyes projecting on little stalks, like 

 lobsters, whereas others possess eyes, called " sessile," those which are attached to the bodj^ without 

 any sensible projection or visible support. 



Our present illustration is an example of a curious little crustacean, known as Arcturus, to which 

 one or two interesting peculiarities are attributed, although it must be distinctly acknowledged they 



are not universally accepted as facts. 

 The Arcturus is seen in the first illustra- 

 tion reared up on its hind legs, and it is 

 said that this is the position in which it 

 watches for its prey ; whereas another 

 account attributes to this little member of 

 the sea a peculiar habit of fretting such 

 things as the wood of piers or harbour 

 supports for a purpose only known to 

 itself. 



The most interesting features, however, 

 of this little animal are to be found really 

 in its beautiful pink colour, its shining 

 skin, and its remarkably beautiful blue 

 eyes, each being more like a mulberry 

 than an organ of vision, and one of which 

 is shown in the second illustration con- 

 siderably magnified. 



THE DODDER 



When wandering over heath or downland 

 in summer one may often come across a 

 furze-bush over which, to all appearance, 

 someone has been industrioush' twining 

 and entangling a few hundred yards of 

 crimson thread. Here and there upon the 

 threads are thick knots, half an inch or 

 more across. This tangle of threads is 



I'holo hti] 



LA', J. .-^piua. 



A BEAUllFUL SHRIMP, 



Some of iKe Crustaceans, such as the Lobsters, have eyes pro- 



jecting on little stalks This Shr 

 say they are set close to the body 



np has sessile " eyes, that is to 

 ithout any appreciable projection. 



really a living plant, leafless but not flowerless, for what appeared at a little distance as a knot is a 

 dense cluster of tiny bell-shaped blossoms. This is the Dodder. 



Now there is one thing that will at once strike the observer who is told that the Dodder is a 

 plant, however ignorant of botany he may be, and that is, that it is remarkable for a plant that 

 bears flowers to have no leaves ; yet search the interminable threads from end to end and you will 

 find no trace of them. Another thing worth notice : trace any of the lower threads of the tangle 

 downwards and 3'ou will find that it has no roots — it does not even reach the ground. Then, perhaps, 

 you conclude that, like mistletoe and many tropical orchids, it began life on the trunk or branch of 

 its host, where a seed may have caught in a crevice. But that is not so. 



The Dodder seed must fall to the ground before it germinates and becomes a seedling. Most 

 seedlings emerge from the seed provided with a pair of fat leaves of different shape from those they 



