164 ANTHEADiE. 



side the belt of sand and rocks that is left uncovered at 

 every tide [on the south side of Belfast Lough], is another, 

 where the large sea-weeds, such as the tangle and sea- 

 furbelows (Laminaria sp.), flourish. . . . As our boat drew 

 nigh to the shore, the large spreading fronds of the sea- 

 weed became more and more distinct, until each was per- 

 fectly revealed to us, below the um-uffled surface of the sea. 

 We had come at the time of low water ; and, as we floated 

 onward, could mark the glorious submarine forest which 

 was beneath our boat. It rose and fell, it heaved and 

 sank, as gracefully as the meadow yields to the breeze, or 

 as the willows bow to the breath of April. As we came 

 into shallower water, the broad outspread fronds of the sea- 

 weed seemed studded with blossoms. What could they 

 be ? A few moments more disclosed the mystery : each 

 blossom was endued with life and motion — it was a living 

 Anthea /" 



The power exercised by this species, pre-eminently, of 

 inflating portions of its body, swelling them out in large 

 tumid lobes separated by deep sulci from the rest of the 

 circumference, assists it in crawling. We will suppose the 

 Anthea resting on the bottom of the vessel, when it feels 

 a desire to mount the sides of the glass. Pushing out 

 a great inflated lobe towards that side, the sole of which is 

 free from the surface, it takes hold of the glass with the 

 edge of the lobe ; and when the contact is firm, relaxing- 

 its former hold, it slowly drags forward the body, until the 

 lobe is again lost in the general circumference, or even till 

 the body projects in two smaller lobes, one on each side 

 of the principal one. The base being now made firmly to 

 adhere, again the lobe is freed, and again protruded, and 

 the same process is repeated until the animal is satisfied 

 with the position it has gained. Sometimes this is at mid- 

 height, the intertwined tentacles streaming loosely down 



