1G8 ANTHEAD^E. 



nearly black lining, which can be readily pressed out from 

 a wound in the tentacle. These granules are very regu- 

 larly globular, of a translucent golden-brown hue by trans- 

 mitted light, varying in diameter from *0003 to *0004 inch, 

 and are arranged in bead-like rows running transversely. 

 This pigment-layer does not give the green hue to the 

 tentacle ; for it may be entirely scraped away, leaving the 

 interior surface of the tentacle-wall of the same opaque 

 emerald-green hue as the exterior. 



This green tint does not appear to be dependent on 

 pigment, but on the arrangement of the primary molecules 

 of the sarcode ; for when pressed to flatness, it yields no 

 transmitted colour, except a very slight yellowish tinge which 

 has no distinct location. It presses to a viscid glaire, full 

 of amorphous refracting granules, and cnidce. The tip 

 exhibits similar phenomena, but the diffused tinge is faintly 

 purple. 



The larger Eolides tear away and devour the tentacles of 

 Antliea: but I know not of any other animal that can 

 venture on attacking it with impunity. I one day saw an 

 amusing example of its power of passive resistance. A 

 beautiful little specimen of the variety Alabastrina, which 

 had been sent me by Mr. Gatehouse, I had occasion to 

 remove from one tank to another. There was a half-grown 

 Bullhead (Cottus bubalis) at the bottom, which had been 

 in captivity rather more than a fortnight. As he had not 

 been fed during that time, I presume he was somewhat 

 sharp-set. He marked the Antliea falling, and before it 

 could reach the bottom, opened his cavern of a mouth and 

 sucked in the bonne bouche. It was not to his taste, how- 

 ever; for as instantly he shot it out again. Not discou- 

 raged, he returned to the attack, and once more sucked it 

 in, but with no better success ; for, after a moment's rolling 

 of the morsel around his mouth, out it shot once more; 



