POLYPUS. 



61 



firmed ; and we are now so familiar with the outlines of 

 the history of the fresh- water polype, and its marvellous 

 reproductive powers, that we can scarcely appreciate the 

 vividness of the sensation felt when it was all novel and 

 strange : when the leading men of our learned societies 

 were daily experimenting on these poor worms, and trans- 

 mitting them to one another from distant countries, by 

 careful posts, and as most precious gifts ; and when even 

 ambassadors interested themselves in sending early in- 

 telligence of the engrossing theme to their respective 

 courts." * 



Let us try to see what Trembley saw. Put the phial 

 in a window, and allow it to remain untouched a while. 

 The balls of jelly have all attached themselves, some to the 

 glass sides, some to the plant, but they are balls no longer. 

 Each is a thread of some half-inch in length, and about 

 as thick as small twine, adhering by one extremity ; while 

 from the other radiate, like a star, six slender threads, 

 which are waved irregularly through the water, thrown 

 into spiral coils or various contortions, elongated, contract- 

 ed, elongated again, slowly or suddenly, and in different 

 degrees; Two or three minute water-insects are swimming 

 giddily about ; one of them, as he shoots unconsciously by, 

 just touches one of these slender threads. In an instant 

 the playful course is arrested ; the little thing strives to 

 pursue his way, drags the flexible cord that holds him 

 hither and thither ; redoubles his efforts, pulls away and 

 stretches it till we think it must break and free him. 

 No ! like a skilful angler, the Jelly is but wearying his 

 victim : suddenly the thread is thrown into corkscrew coils*, 



* Johnston, Brit. Zooph. 123. 



