SEA-ANEMONES. 5 



They are tiny little things, clad with cilia, with which they move freely 

 in the water for a little while, then settle on some stone, and give 

 themselves up to a sedateness worthy the parent that gave them birth. 

 It often happens that mother Anemone sends out her little ones in a 

 very rough way into the world. In fact, they are introduced into 

 actinian society sadly sans ceremonie. From the mesentery cham- 

 bers are certain little ducts which open into the neck of the orifice, 

 which we have called the mouth ; and this orifice, it will be remem- 

 bered is directly over the open stomach. So it sometimes happens 

 that when one actinia is sending out a litter of her babies from the 

 mouth, she, just at that very moment, takes a notion to empty her 

 stomach of the indigested leavings of her last meal, so that these in- 

 di'i-esta and two score innocents are evicted in a dreadfully execrable 

 and unmeally-mouthed manner. 



<^.-J 



Fig. 3. Vertical Section of Actinia. a. Stomach-sac ; b. Mesentery ; c, Craspedum ; 



d. Tentacle. 



We must now notice a remarkable apparatus known as the lasso- 

 cells. It has been repeatedly observed that an actinia has a stinging, 

 or, as it is called, an urticating power over the tissue of other animals. 

 Now, there are in different parts of the body of an actinia innumerable 

 cells, from which, especially the cells on the tentacles, it can dart an 

 invisible thread. The microscope can see it, and has made known its 

 structure. In some species this delicate thread thus shot out is a mar- 

 velously-complex affair. It is coiled up, and when necessity urges, at 

 the will of the animal, it is darted like a cord from a spi-ing-trap. 

 Now, this is just the simplest part of it ; for, strange to say, when this 

 thread is shot forth, just at the striking instant, out of the sides of this 

 invisible thread other threads or snares spring, and these last are 

 barbed. What a wonderful mechanism is this ! 



Let me invite you to a sight I have many times beheld. I have in 

 captivity a hungry sea-flower. Know^ing well what suits its palate, I 

 take a delicate morsel like a pilule, and let it fall into the water. It 

 descends upon the waving petals, or tentacula, on the point of one of 

 which the pretty creature has caught it in an instant. How delicate the 

 adjustment upon its more than fairy fingers ! For a few moments it is 



