Pond life / by Edward C. Ash.

  • Edward C. Ash
Date:
[1913]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Pond life / by Edward C. Ash. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    swallow large victims. Occasionally this curious animal wanders off, and may do so either by sliding along on its foot, or by continual somersaults, each one making some alteration in its position. When so engaged the hydra at every revo- lution stands once on its tentacles, foot upwards, and in this position reminds one forcibly of the days when little vulgar boys took up a similar position for the price of a copper coin. The word foot, it must be explained, is merely a name for the end distant from the tentacles. The hydra is altogether a mystery; firstly one and the same creature will occasionally turn into a female, and lay eggs in the right and proper manner. And then should food become Hydra 1. Group of hydra. 2. Thread capsule not in use (lash curled up). 3. Thread capsule in use. a matter of Wait and be patient and be thankful for what you receive,” the females “ that were ” quietly change into herma- phrodites (male and female in one). It may happen that times get worse, when it is a matter of wait without receiving, and on this auspicious occasion the hermaphrodites, possibly ignorantly thinking that u two sexes in one may mean more food required,” sedately change once more into males. But this is not all; the hydra, if it were large enough, would be termed “ the vivisectors’ ideal,” for cut off a piece, and the “cut off” grows the missing part, whilst the “cut from” be- comes complete. And a hydra can be cut into very many pieces and each piece will grow into a perfect specimen. There are three British species ; H. viridis is probably the commonest. It is green owing to the chlorophyll it contains,
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