le
slipper-shaped creature which swims by means of the rapid waving motion
of hair-like elastic rods which cover the whole body. At last, tired
out, it settles down, grows into an animal resembling its cousins of the
fresh water, and then starts branching out to form a colony like that
from which it started.

[Illustration: HYDRA COLONY. Fig. 4.]

[Illustration: BRANCH OF HYDRA COLONY HIGHLY MAGNIFIED Fig. 5.]

This device of fixed and stay-at-home workers and wandering egg-layers
is of the greatest use to the species, as a little reflection will show.
If the eggs dropped to the ground and hatched all around the parent
colony the neighbourhood would soon become like some human
cities--overcrowded, and overcrowding means starvation and disease; but
by sending off individuals specially charged with the founding of new
colonies on new territory, all these troubles are avoided.

W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S.

NOW.

'Now' is the syllable ticking from the clock of Time. 'Now' is the
watchword of the wise. 'Now' is on the banner of the prudent. Whenever
anything presents itself to us in the shape of work, whether mental or
bodily, we should do it with all our might, remembering that 'now' is
the only time for us. It is a sorry way to get through the world by
putting off till to-morrow, saying, 'Then' I will do it. 'Now' is ours;
'Then' we may never have.

HOW GORDON KEPT SHOP.

When General Gordon first went to the Soudan, he found that the native
chiefs knew nothing about money or its use. All the European traders who
had visited the country up to that time had paid the chiefs with a
handful of beads, or a few pieces of calico, for any work which they had
done, and the chiefs prized the beads and calico far more than copper or
silver coins.

Now, General Gordon was not quite satisfied to do merely as other people
had done. He thought it was time these grown-up children learned to buy
and sell with the help of money. But, as the people themselves wanted
none of his money, he was puzzled how to teach them the use of it.

At length he hit upon a rather clever plan. He made a number of little
piles or lots of beads, wire, and other things which they valued, and
which they usually received as the pay for their labours. But, when pay
day arrived, he gave to each man a small coin, equal to an English penny
in value. When each man had received his pay, General Gordon, playing at
keeping shop, offered to e