29 
MICEOSCOPICAL AND NATUEAL HISTOEY SECTION. 
October 13th, 1879. 
Chaeles Bailey, F.L.S., President of the Section, in the 
Chair. 
On the Means by which Hydra swallows its Prey,” by 
M. M. Haetog, M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S. 
The current idea is that Hydra swallows by taking its prey 
in its tentacles and turning tentacles and all into its stomach. 
However, the part played by the tentacles ceases as soon as 
the mouth comes in contact with the food. The hydra then 
slowly stretches itself over the food in a way that recalls to 
some extent the manner in which a serpent “gets outside” its 
prey, or in which an automatic stocking might stretch itself 
onto the foot and leg. No care seems to be taken, however, 
to present the easiest point for deglutition, and an Ento 
mostracan may be swallowed sideways, for instance. So 
far are the tentacles from co-operating in the act, that they 
are usually reflexed away from the food; occasionally, how- 
ever, they are swung forward for a moment around the 
mass as if to ascertain how much remains to be swallowed. 
If the prey be at all bulky, immediately after the whole 
act is completed the body cavity is everywhere filled and 
on the stretch ; but after a short lapse of time the body 
contracts forcibly along the long axis, so that the part con- 
taining the food is globular, supported on a slender foot and 
with a slender apical process bearing the tentacles around 
the hypostome. 
Mr. R. Ellis Cunliffe called attention to a paper by 
Mr. H. J. Carter on the classification of the Spongiada, and 
exhibited a series of slides prepared by Messrs. Cole from 
the original specimens. 
