A MINIATURE MURDERER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16846, 23 September 1922, Page 7

A MINIATURE MURDERER.

While looking down into the water o) a pond a scientist w itnessed a thrilling combat. Lurking half-hidden among the water plants was a gruesome creature whose pulpy, whitish body and long, waving tentacles gave it the appearance v»f a devil-fish. Each of its seven arms was provided with hundreds of deadly stings. As the scientist watched, another creature, much bigger than the first, swam into view. It moved slowly towards the vegetation in whose folds the terror lay waiting. Suddenly one of the long arms touched the body of the new-comer. The victim started back, but in a flash a second tentacle was flung around him. Tlmn the poison began to do its deadly work, and as arm followed arm around the victim’s body its struggles became more feeble and thou ceased altogether. Slowly the tentacles were drawn tighter, bringing the victim towards the terror’s gaping mouth. So powerful was the poison of the stings -in the clasping arms that the whole fight was over in less than thirty seconds. The terror was the hydra, which lives in every stagnant pool. Pull up a tuft of water weeds and you are sure to see whitish specks attached to thei: stalks. These are hydras, but the arms are not visible, since they are drawn in when the creature is alarmed. To he examined successfully they must be placed under the microscope.