THE PARASITIC ANEMONE. 137 



shot, the thread sticks in the wounded flesh, and 

 carries the capsule with it ; while, if it fail to strike, 

 I suppose it can never be recoiled, and re-inclosed. 



The filaments, which are of the same rose-purple 

 hue as the spots, are excessively ahundant in this 

 species, and are projected on the slightest disturbance 

 of the animal. The firmness with which they adhere 

 to the fingers, when accidentally touched, so that it is 

 a difficult matter to clear them away, proves that even 

 the most callous parts of the human skin offer no 

 impediment to the entrance of those subtle weapons, 

 the barbed threads, though their poisonous properties 

 are too feeble to be appreciated by our nerves. 



THE PARASITIC ANEMONE. 



This species [Actinia jparasitica of Couch) takes 

 rank among the largest of om' native Actinige, being 

 only exceeded by fine specimens of A, dianilms.^ It 

 frequently attains a height of four inches, and a 

 diameter of two and a half. It is of a columnar form, 

 nearly equal in diameter throughout, but commonly 

 a little expanded at the base, which slightly spreads 

 over the substances to which it adheres. 



The colouring of the body, though subject to some 

 variation, always maintains such an uniformity of 

 style and pattern as to render it easy of identification 

 at all times. Indeed I know of no species which is 

 less liable to be mistaken for any other than this. 

 The ground-colour is a dirty white, or drab, often 

 slightly tinged with pale yellow ; longitudinal bands 



* A. crassicornis occasionally attains a greater size than either*^ 

 {Second Edition,) . 



