THE CCELENTERATES 



145 



touch, as well as that of sight, is necessary in determining its 

 whereabouts. As a rule, however, it does not resort to this method 

 of concealment when it inhabits deep water, or even a permanent 

 rock pool between the tide-marks, and thus it is in the latter home 

 where one may expect to see this sea flower in all its glory, for 

 when permanently covered with water it will seldom hide its 

 crown, except when alarmed, or when in the act of swallowing its 

 food. 



It should be noted, too, that the rock pool is the right place in 

 which to study the habits of this anemone, for it is not nearly so 

 easy to rear in the artificial aquarium as the species previously 

 described, and, moreover, it requires a great deal of food. We 



FIG. 95. PeacTiia hastata, S. DEVON 



have found it live longest in running water, kept cool, and fre- 

 quently renewed by supplies fresh from the sea. It may be fed on 

 almost any, if not every, form of animal life inhabiting a rock pool. 

 A small fish or a prawn is perfectly helpless when once it is seized 

 by the creature's tentacles. Mussels, winkles, limpets, &c., are 

 eagerly swallowed, and the indigestible shells disgorged after the 

 animal substance has been dissolved by the digestive fluid. Even 

 the active shore crab, armed as it is with a coat of mail and power- 

 ful pincers, is no match for its powerfully adhesive tentacles ; nor 

 do the sharp spines of the prickly urchin preserve it from so vora- 

 cious a creature. 



The rocky coasts of Devon and Cornwall are the chief haunts of 



L 



