132 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



Anemone from plants. It is one of the many inaccm-ate 

 statements grounded on imjDerfect observation, which 

 are repeated in handbooks. The original observer 

 probably noticed an Anemone some time out of the 

 water, making no effort to return ; had the observation 

 been continued, the doubt would have been solved. 

 Some Anemones, especially the Common Smooth 

 species {Meseinhryanthcmum), are accustomed daily to 

 be left out of water by the receding tide, so that in 

 captivity they may be supposed rather to eujoy an 

 occasional air-bath. I have repeatedly seen mine crawl 

 out of the water and settle on the edo-e of the o'lass, or 

 pan, high and dry ; but they descended again after a 

 few hours. The locomotion of the Anemones is, how- 

 ever, various in various species. I do not think the 

 " Trogs " ever move ; nor do the " Gems " seem migra- 

 tory ; but the " Antheas " and the " Smooths " are 

 somewhat restless. '•' The Actiniae," says Rymer Jones, 

 " possess the power of changing their position ; they 

 often elongate their bodies, and, remaining fixed by the 

 base, stretch from side to side, as if seeking food at a 

 distance ; they can even change their place by gliding 

 upon the disc that suj)ports them, or detaching them- 

 selves entirely, and swelling themselves with water, 

 they become nearly of the same specific gravity as the 

 element they inhabit, and the least agitation is sufficient 

 to drive them elsewhere. Reaumur even asserts, that 

 they can turn themselves so as to use their tentacles as 

 feet, crawling upon the bottom of the sea ; but this 

 mode of progression has not been observed by subse- 



