154 METAM0KPH0SES OF MAN 



the beings thus produced performs the same functions 

 as its parent^ and gives rise to other generations; 

 thus rapidly increasing the size of the whole colony. 

 The process is just that which we see in a strawberry 

 plants throwing out its slender runners in every 

 direction; which; becoming contiguous; eventually 

 produce an entire border of new plants. 



The Medusa lives for some time in this condition; 

 but; in course of time; one of the trumpet-shaped 

 bodies becomes three or four times as long as its 

 fellows; and assumes a cylindrical form. A single 

 circular depression is then seen; immediately below 

 the crown of tentacles ; this is quickly followed by 

 others; till at length the entire stem is marked at 

 intervals almost to the very foot-disk; which,, how- 

 ever; remains intact. The body of the polyp con- 

 sists now of a series of rings; from ten to fourteen in 

 number. 



These rings are smooth at first; but after a while 

 their inferior borders are festooned; these festoons 

 then become more marked; and; finally; the angles 

 are drawn out; and they are converted into eight 

 little leash-like organs; bifurcated at their extremities. 

 At the same time; the intermediate grooves have gone 

 on deepening; till they have extended almost to the 

 central axis of the polyp. The latter at this period 

 resembles a pile of little plates; whose edges are 

 deeply cut and very flat; and which are attached to 

 each other by their centres. The scyphistoma has, 

 so to speak; cut itself up into slices. It is to this 

 stage in the life of the Medusa; that Saars gave the 

 name of strobila; and we see that the Norwegian 

 naturalist's mistake w T as a very pardonable one. 



