THE LA SSO THRO WERS. 
53 
Fig. 20. 
with hundreds of clear transparent cells (l, Fig. 20), 
so small that 200 of the largest of them would lie 
side by side in an inch, while many are not more 
than Y-gVijth of an inch long, and each of these 
cells contains a formidable weapon. Within the cell, 
lying bathed in a poisonous fluid, is coiled a long 
delicate thread, barbed at the base (2, 3, Fig. 20), 
and this thread 
may well be call- 
ed a lasso, since 
it is always many, 
and often from 
twenty to forty 
times as long as 
the cell itself, and 
only waits for the 
ba to burst to 
fling itself out to 
its full length. 
Lasso-cells of the Hydra and Sea-Anemone. 
I. Piece of one of the hydra's arms, showing 
the cells crowded in it. 2. One of the cells. 
Now lookin o- 3- The same cel1 after burstin g P en - 4- Lasso- 
*=> cell of an anemone. 
at the hydra, Pig. 
19, picture to yourself that each of its delicate 
thread-like tentacles is crowded with hundreds of 
these lasso-cells, only waiting the word of command 
to discharge their weapons. By and by the two 
worms (a a) come within reach, and rub against the 
tentacles, instantly every cell that is touched bursts 
open, and with a spring its lasso is set free and 
shoots out, piercing through the skin of the worm. 
And now we can see where the hydra's strength 
lies. He has no need to struggle, for his victim is 
pierced by a number of darts, and the poisonous fluid 
from the cells is pouring into him. And there is 
5 
