The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-15

puzzle of scientists for aSeS-the hydra,
remains today an unsolved problem in
animal life Indeed, until quite recently
the authorities classed it not as an
animal at all, but as a branch of the
vegetable Kingdom. In the case of the
hydra, distinctions between animal and
vegetable are confused and partially
obliterated. This extraordinary crea-
ture upsets all our theories as to in
dividuality. It disproves half that we
have established on The subject of
physiological laws. Anyone may study
the hydra, for it everywhere abounds:
but to explain its organic system were
an ilnpossibility-for he that would I'M
derstand the hydra must comprehend
nature.
THE ORIGINAL HYDRA.
The second of Hercules tasks for his
master, Eurystheus, was the vanquish-
ing Of the Lernaean hydra. Near Ar
gas, in the district of Lernae, dwelt
this tabled monster, huge, nine-headed,
the central head immortal. Hercules
attacked the hateful crea ture, but as
he srapte off the heads, two new ones
grew in place of each. The valiant god
only succeeded in subduing his adver-
sary when, with the aid of his servant,
Eolous, he burned the mortal heads,
meath a Donderous rock.
Such is the legend of mythology. The
real hydra Of the naturalists is a tiny
thing-the lightest touch is enough to
slay 1t; but the dreadful beast that
troubled Hercules was not more mar
velous in its multiplying life than is
its inoffensive namesake of our own
experience.
The most simply constructed of ami
mais are the zoophytes. They are,
however, of various degrees in sim
plicity; and the simplest of them is the
hydra. This small creature is to be
found commonly in pools of stagnant
water, and the study of ii, either with
or without a microscope is both de-
hghtful and amazing. Indeed, its pc
cullarlties are such as to be of ex-
IRENE Importance in our consideration
of the profoundest questions of being.
The nydra's body is constructed after
the fashion of an ordinary coin purse
or sac. having a mouth and around the
mouth tentacula. The animal uses
these tentacles, corresponding to arms
in the capture of its food and in con-
veying the food into its mouth. Those
VINO have seen the cuttlefish. have seen
similar arrangement, vastly larger,
but the cGttlefish lacks the hydras
extraordinary characteristics. The
hydra's tentacles do not possess suck
ers like the 'cuttlefiSh's or ella, which
are common to many animals. The
arms are equipped with tiny bristles
and strong-pointed spines. The spines
are retained concealed in excrescenses
when not employed. When opportunity
Tor their use occurs they are thrust
forth in much the same fashion that
a cat unsheaths its claws
HOW THE HYDRA LIVES.
The hydra attaches itself to some
firm ri 1,xv -
lets its tentacles float in the water,
idly TO all appearance. In reality, the
waving arms are industriously search
ing for prey. When a cI-ustacean or any
other desired and unwary victim
chances to encounter one of the wait
ing tentacles, the spines are extended
and the arm .twines securely about its
unhappy prisoner. If the prey be large
enough TO require il, the other tenta-
cles assist inf mastering the struggles
CT the captive and finally aid in con-
yeying it into the hydras mouth.
Hard-Shelled animals are swallowed
alive, and one can watch the cOntinu-
alton of their efforts to escape even
after they have been swallowed-so
delicateiy' thin is the texture of the
hydra's body. The spines however. are
supplied with a poisonous secretion,
similar TO that of spiders, and this is
injected into SOfe-bOd animals as
they are held in the clutches of the
tentacles. As result, the prey dies
after being retained for a short time
in the grasp Of the arms
The ordinary lOcomotion of the HYDRA
is not startlingly swift On the con-
t-ary, an inch in an hour is the hest
speed attained. It's method of move
meRt is to bend forward to take hold
or the road by mouth or tentacles or
both then to draw its sucker close
and TO renew Its grasp with that base
OF operations. The repetition of this !
performance insures a tediously slow
progress. This fashion of walking is |
the same as that employed by some
OF the Iepidoptera larvae, a familiar
example of which is the caterDiIIar (
poDuarly known under the various
names of looper, geometer o.. measure /
worm When the hydra is recklessly /
hurried, II contrlVes to increase its |
pace by an acrobatic scheme II holds !
fast by its tentacles and proceeds to /
turn a somesault It continues to turn
somesaults until it has arrived. making
excellent time.
THE HYDRA GOES A-SAILING.
The hydra has little power of sensa-
ton; its capacity for pleasure is of the
smallest. But the hydra enjoys itself.
and its little cup of bliss is full To the
l9f1m when it goes a-sailins The HYDRA
lets its body float just beneath the
.,4-1e&cS u the water, II raises its |
seeker above the surface, where the
light membrane soon dries Thus dried
the sucker forms a capital sail The
breeze comes: puff. the hydra goes
sailing away The tentacles make rud-
ners to guide the course. If the wind
fails, they become oars for this living
galley.
Such is the hydra in its general char
Rcteristics. But its startling idiosvn-
crasies have yet 10 be told
Turn the hydra inside out and il suf-
fers no apparent damage. The former
outside Of its stomach digests food as
readily as did the former inside Occa
sionally hydra engaged in swallow
ing its food will be swallowed by
second hydra One would suspect that
this would terminate the first hydra's
career The fact is otherwise The
two hydras, the swallower and the
swallowed, digest their mutual food.
thereafter, the swallowed hydra. an
Enimal Jonah, reappears, none the
worse. In truth, the two hydras seem
well content with their communistic !
method of dining
Hydras have two ways ofsgenerating
Dne of which IS such as to render very
doubtful our exact separation of animal
from vegetable life. When the produce
Zion is by eggs, or seeds, thew are
elected as gelatinous globules in the
'aptumn. from which the young issue in
the spring. The second manner Of