complete life-history, is known as metagenesis, or "alternation of generation"the individuals of each generation being like their grandparents, but unlike their parents.

The foundation of a hydroid colony is a fleshly tube of animal substance, often arranged in tree-like, feather-like or fernform. This connects into one living whole the thousands of individuals of the community. By the aid of a powerful microscope, one may see the moving tentacles by means of which the tiny animals grasp microscopic seaweeds floating in the water. The Hydrozoa are found in many shades of red, yellow, brown and almost white, and some species emit a phosphorescent light. Among the most attractive families are the Plumularians, one of which is known as the ostrich plume, from its striking resemblance to a tiny ostrich feather. This species (Aglaophemia struthioides) is found only on the Pacific Coast, where in some places (notably at Santa Barbara) it is sometimes cast up on the beaches in great quantities. It is probably the most beautiful of all the hydroids. It varies greatly in size and color, but is commonly four to six inches in length, and of a brown or reddish-brown hue. Dwellers in the beach towns of California commonly call it "feather moss," and tourists and visitors to the beach resorts carry home pressed or dried specimens of this species of the hydrozoa, as examples of California's wonderful seaweeds. If told that their beautiful "feather moss" consisted of colonies of small animals, it is probable that they would regard their informant as either a lunatic or a joker.

Sea anemones, corals, sea-fans, sea-pens and sea-whips are much larger than individual hydroids, and, as a rule, more highly organized. Generally their resemblance to plants or flowers, although often striking, is not of a character likely to deceive the observer as to their true place in nature. Even the children who watch the sea-anemones in tide pools expand into beautiful, flower-like forms, never doubt that they are animals. They are incomparably the most gorgeously colored of all forms of animal life. The skeletons of the various species of coral, also, are well known; but give no suggestion of the

appearance of the living polyps, which are found in many shades of pink, yellow, green, brown and purple. Related to the coral polyps are the sea-fans and seawhips, the former resembling branching shrubs, and the latter long, unbranched ros. These, like the hydroids, live in colonies, containing many animals. They belong to the order Gorgonasea, and are common on nearly all coasts, the species eunicea lugubris being cast up on the beaches after every storm at sea. The seapens are found in colonies resembling quill feathers, with the exception of the species known as the sea-pansy. This is found in the sand along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, on the shores of the Red Sea, and along the coast of Australia. As the name indicates, it is shaped somewhat like a pansy. Dried specimens are of a deep violet color, and are even more pansy-like in appearance than the living animals.

The crinoids are inhabitants of deep water, where they form great beds of the so-called sea-lilies. They have a long, jointed stalk, one end attached to the rocks, while on the other end is a disc, from which radiate ten arms. From each of these arms small branches extend, giving them a feathery appearance. The crinoids are denizens of the deep seas, and are never found cast up on the beaches;

but their fossil forms are of world-wide distribution, and are found in sedimentary rocks of all geological epochs. These fossils are known as stone lilies and encrinites, and may be seen in any public museum of any pretensions. From a study of these fossils it is known that there were formerly more than two hundred genera of crinoids. At the present time, only twelve genera are known to exist. From this it is inferred that the crinoids are destined to extinction.

The polyzoa are very numerous on the sea beaches, but are so inconspicuous that they are rarely noticed, and when seen, they are always mistaken for seaweeds, unless the observer happens to be a naturalist. Like the hydroids, they occur in colonies, some in lace-like sheets on submerged objects, some in mossy patches, and some in fern-like or tree-like forms, but always very small. Another large class of animals that resemble plants are the ascidians, or sea-squirts, growing upon seaweeds, shells, rocks, the piling of piers, and anything else that happens to be at hand. The simple ascidians have leathery, sac-shaped bodies, and give out jets of water when touched. One common form is known as the lady's slipper, from its resemblance to the flower of that name. Another commonly grows upon large seaweeds, and looks not unlike the fruit of the prickly pear.

There is little in the appearance of the barnacle suggestive of plant life, except that it is attached firmly to any submerged object that happens to be convenient; and that some kinds grow with flexible stems several inches in length. It is mentioned in this connection only for the sake of recalling the fable that persisted for many centuries to the effect that the ship-barnacle (also called the "goose barnacle") was a shell-fish that grew upon a tree, and changed into a goose! Churchmen reasoned that a goose that had formerly been a fish that grew upon a tree could not possibly be a fowl, so that this particular species of goose (a wild goose found throughout the north of Europe) was freely eaten during Lent and on Fridays and fast days. That the myth of the barnacle geese persisted well into the Seventeenth Century indicates sufficiently that the intelligent study of nature had hardly begun at that time.

Many of the sea-slugs (Nudibranchs), when seen in the water are so plant-like in appearance that their true nature is no evident until they begin to move. In the case of these, however, the simulation of plant forms is a protection device of nature to shield them from the attacks of predacious foes. The same is true of the sea-cucumbers, and of many others of the strange and little known denizens of the sea.

I'

T IS RATHER strange that the strategical and economical importance of the Panama Canal should be either over or under-valued, and that there are still some people who refuse to recognize the necessity for the United States of a fortified Canal, although it seems remarkable there can exist any doubt that this fortification really imposes itself.

Besides being a necessity, the fortification of the Panama Canal by the United States will mean a public proclamation of her claim to an exclusive right of use of the Panama Canal for military purposes in case she should become involved in war, the claim to a right which must unreservedly be conceded her, and recognition of which will settle beforehand any idea of neutralization.

Those opposed to the plan of fortification for the Panama Canal generally make reference, when discussing the matter, to the neutralization of the Suez Canal -a reference which does not tend to strengthen the force of their arguments, since the reasons which prompted the neutralization of the Suez Canal totally differ from those that now make the fortification of the Panama Canal a necessitv.

The neutralization of the Suez Canal was recognized at the time by every one of the powers playing a part in the international political field, thus guaranteeing it, while nothing of the kind is the case with the Panama Canal, and it is this circumstance of an international agreement regarding the Suez Canal that furnishes the strongest argument in favor of a fortified Panama Canal.

No power bound by the treaty may attack the Suez Canal without incurring the risk of depriving itself, forever, of the right to recur to any other treaty whatever, and it is not likely that any one will ever take its chance on this point and violate the neutrality of the Suez Canal.

The Panama Canal, on the contrary, may, in case of war, be attacked by any power, with the exception of England, which stands under obligations assumed by a treaty with the United States, and, since the opening of the Panama Canal is really of secondary importance for European powers, it is only when hostilities shall break out between the United States and an Asiatic power that the strategical importance of the Canal and its fortification would be fully appreciated.

The fact that the Panama Canal will be of small importance for Europe in general. is reflected in the indifference shown by the various European powers in providing for a neutralization of this new waterway. Even England has shown but little interest in the matter, and has confined herself to a modification, in 1901, of the treaty of 1850, which was then adapted to modern requirements.

On the other hand, it is not probable that a war will ever break out between the United States and any European nation, but even if the unexpected should really happen. the Panama Canal would be of no particular importance in such an instance, since the Atlantic Ocean would naturally be the scene of the struggle.

Besides, the United States already controls the entrance to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic side, to which three routes

lead; namely, between Cuba and Haiti, Haiti and Porto Rico, and Porto Rico and St. Thomas.

As far as the Panama Canal is concerned, Cuba may be considered as being practically part of the United States' territory, as is shown by the existence of her Naval Station at Guantanamo.

In case of need, Haiti could be easily occupied by an American army, while Porto Rico itself is an American possession. As to St. Thomas, which belongs to Denmark, it is not likely that this last nation would ever interfere in any struggle on the Atlantic Ocean.

The only weak point to-day would be the Island of Jamaica, in the Caribbean Sea, belonging to Great Britain, which would probably never think of relinquishing it of her own free will in favor of the United States, inasmuch as the Panama Canal will be a new route to her possessions in the Far East, in the event that

SAN FRANCISCO U. S.

the Suez Canal should be closed to her for some unforeseen reason.

But even this weak point could never prove an obstacle to any eventual scheme on the part of the United States, since England is too much in need of America's friendship, and even more interested in keeping this waterway open for herself, to be hostile, and thus jeopardize her valuable possessions in the West Indies.

The matter has a different aspect when Japan is referred to as a possible adversary of the United States. To Japan the Panama Canal would be the only means of bringing her fleet within a few days from one ocean to the other. As long as this waterway is not open to navigation, or as long as there is a possibility of destruction, Japan would have to deal only with the American fleet stationed on the Pacific Coast at the time.

Foresight and common sense must lead every American to the question. “Who

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