Besides these locomotive members, the community contains three kinds
of Hydræ arising as buds from the primitive Hydra below the swimming
bells, the latter remaining always nearest the oil bubble at the top,
while the first Hydra, the founder of the community, in proportion as
the new individuals are added, is gradually pushed downward, and
remains always at the end of the string, the stem of which is formed
by the elongated neck of the primitive Hydra. All the three sets of
Hydræ have certain features in common, while they have other
distinguishing characteristics marking them as distinct individuals.
They are all accompanied by triangular shields (Fig. 111), arising
with them at the same point on the parent stem, and all are furnished
with tentacles hanging down from the summit of the Hydra at the side
opposite the shield. These facts are important to remember, since we
shall presently perceive, upon analyzing their parts, that these Hydræ
have a close homology to the Hybocodon. The tentacles differ in
structure as well as in number for each kind of Hydra. Having shown in
what characters they agree, let us now take each set individually, and
see what differences they present.
[Illustration: Fig. 111. Cluster of Medusæ with tentacles having
pendent knobs.]
In the first set which we will examine the Hydra is open-mouthed. Like
the original Hydra, it is only a digestive tube, similar in all
respects to the proboscis of a Medusa-disk. Its only function is that
of feeding, and it shows a laudable fidelity to its calling, being
very constantly and earnestly engaged in the work. Let us add,
however, that in this instance the occupation is not a wholly selfish
one, since the cavity of every Hydra communicates with that of the
stem, and the food taken in at these over-gaping mouths, is at once
circulated through all parts of the community, with the exception of
the oil bubble, from which it is excluded by the transverse partition
dividing it from all the lower members of the stock. The shields share
in this general nourishment of the compound body by means of
chymiferous tubes extending toward the outer surface, and opening into
the cavity of the stem. The mouth of this Hydra is very flexible (Fig.
111), expanding and contracting at the will of the animal, and
sometimes acting as a sucker, fastening itself, leech-like, on the
object from which it seeks to draw its sustenance. (See Fig. 111.) The
tentacles attached to this set of Hydræ are exceedingly long and
delicate. They arise in a cluster at the upper and inner edge of the
Hydra, just at its point of juncture with the stem, and being
extremely flexible and contractile, their long tendril-like sprays are
thrown out in an endless variety of attitudes. (See Fig. 115.) Along
the whole length of this kind of tentacle are attached little pendent
knobs at even distances; Fig. 112 represents such a knob greatly
magnified, and absolutely paved with lasso-cells, the inner and
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