CRABS IX THE STOMACH OF ANEMONES. 139 



same result. In each case the crab was clutched, but 

 in each case he got away unhurt. I then chose another 

 crab, not more than half the size of the former, and 

 certainly no match in point of strength for the Ane- 

 mone, yet after being embraced and carried to the 

 mouth, I observed the crab slowly appear from the un- 

 folding tentacles, and scuttle away with great activity. 

 This experiment casts a doubt on what is asserted 

 by all writers, namely, that Anemones feed on crabs. 

 Eymer Jones records that " they will devour a crab as 

 large as a hen's egg" Has any one ever seen a Kve 

 crab caught and eaten by an Anemone ? I confess 

 never to have seen it, and the experiment just related 

 disposes me to doubt : although it is quite possible 

 that my Anemones were dainty, because not hungry, 

 and refused food which, under less epicurean condi- 

 tions, would have been welcome. If any one has seen 

 the Anemone feeding on live crabs, that is enough. 

 Meanwhile I think it right to propound the doubt, and 

 to add to it this subsequent observation : I took a tiny 

 Crustacean, of the shrimp family, about half an inch 

 in length, and dropped it in a vase containing some 

 Daisies. It soon touched the tentacles of one of these, 

 was drawn in, but almost immediately escaped. It 

 then swam about until it touched the largest Daisy, 

 and was quickly engulfed. As it had entirely disap- 

 peared, I expected it woidd be certainly killed if not 

 eaten, but in a few moments it made its way out un- 

 hm^t, and swam away. These Daisies had not been fed 

 for at least a fortnight ; they had subsisted entirely on 



