146 THE SEA SHORE 



the pretty ' Daisy Anemone ' (Sagartia bellis), and here it is very 

 abundant in places. This species lives in holes and crevices of the 

 rocks, its body usually entirely hidden from view, but its dark 

 brown disc, intersected by bright red radiating lines, and fringed 

 with numerous small tentacles, fully exposed to view as long as it 

 is submerged. The length of its body is always adapted to the 

 depth of the hole or crevice in which the animal lives, and may 

 vary from half an inch to two or three inches, the diameter of the 

 columns being greatest where the length is least. 



Sometimes the ' Daisy ' may be seen living a solitary life, 

 having settled down in a hole just large enough to accommodate it, 

 but more commonly it is seen in company with several others of 

 its species, occupying a crevice in a rock pool, and often so closely 



FIG. 96. Sagartia pallida, DEVON AND CORNWALL 



packed together that the tentacles of each individual are inter- 

 mingled with those of its neighbours, thus exhibiting a more or 

 less continuous cluster or line of ' flowers,' each disc being from 

 one to two or three inches in diameter when fully expanded. 



On account of the peculiar positions selected by this species, it 

 is not easily removed without injury, and hammer and chisel are 

 almost always necessary for its removal ; but if it is obtained 

 without injury, and transferred to the indoor aquarium, but little 

 difficulty will be found in keeping it alive and in health. It is also 

 very prolific, and a single specimen placed in the indoor tank will 

 frequently produce a large number of young. 



The colour of S. bellis, like that of many of our anemones, 

 is very variable, but the species may easily be recognised by the 



