The Strangest Things in the World: A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of NatureHenry, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert)
History
The Strangest Things in the World: A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of Nature
Henry, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert)
Animal behavior; Natural history
An oyster can change its sex several times during its life. This has
been determined by Dr. Paul Galtsoff of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service by observing an experimental colony. In the first year 8% of
the males changed to females and 13% of the females became males. In
the second year 11% of the males changed sex and 12% of the females.
One sex change, Dr. Galtsoff found, makes the same individual more
likely to undergo another.
A single Pacific coast oyster produces approximately 10,000,000,000
descendants a year. If all survived in five generations they would
constitute a mass eight times the size of the world.
Clams and oysters appear to be about the most stupid animals in
creation. Actually each has three “brains,” or nerve ganglia. One
controls the feeding apparatus, another the viscera, and a third the
utilization of oxygen.
_The World’s Biggest Sneeze_
The sneeze of the elephant has been described as “like the bursting of
a boiler of considerable size.” When the elephant feels the onset of
one of these titanic eruptions it appears to realize that a momentous
event is about to take place. It becomes extremely restless and is
seemingly unable to stand still for a moment. The sneeze is preceded by
a tremendous, wall-shaking bellow.
Although elephants are subject to frequent colds the sneeze is a
rare phenomenon. For this reason it is regarded as a good luck sign,
especially among Moslems of India, who gather around and wait patiently
for the event. When it starts they bow their heads and pray for the
realization of their wishes.
_The Luminescent Ctenophores_
There are windless nights when Caribbean waters seem like fields of
green fireflies. This is due to vast numbers of luminescent ctenophores
or comb-bearers. One the most abundant and least known forms of animal
life, they are also among the most delicate. Although they are related
to the planarian worm and the jelly fish, they are quite unique.
Superficially they seem little more than animate bags of water with
skins thinner than the most delicate tissue paper. They abound in
staggering numbers over most of the world. One of the most familiar
types is the American mnemiopsis. On calm summer days the amber green
species sometimes covers completely thousands of square yards of
sea—like a raft formed of millions of individuals floating just below
the surface. A classic ground for this phenomenon is Narragansett Bay.
Like the rest of its race, this ctenophore is like a fragment of
moonlight on the sea. It is so fragile that the slightest current of
water in its neighborhood is sufficient to tear it to bits. It is about
as elusive as moonlight. When grasped gently the jelly-like substance
slides through the fingers. Taken in a net and placed in salt water
it vanishes completely on the way from boat to laboratory. Intact
specimens are almost unknown in scientific collections.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account