140 THE PAEASITIC ANEMONE. 



This fine and veiy distinct species is exceedingly 

 abundant in Weymouth Bay, extending from the deep 

 water of the offing, even into the narrow harbour ; but 

 is never met with between tide-marks. It is, as its 

 name imports, parasitic in its habits, though not so 

 strictly but that we frequently find specimens adhering 

 to stones ; and in captivity it is by no means uncommon 

 for an individual to detach itself from its native site, 

 and adhere to the bottom of the vessel, or even to 

 crawl a little way up the perpendicular side. Gene- 

 rally, however, it is found embracing some univalve 

 shell, which is tenanted by a Soldier Crab ; young 

 specimens on Turritella terehra, TrocJius magus, T. 

 zizipMnus, &c. ; but adults, which are much more fre- 

 quently met with than the young, almost invariably on 

 the great Whelk [Buccmum undatum). The dredge, 

 indeed, often brings up shells invested by the Actinia 

 which are empty ; but I believe that in every such 

 case, the shell has recently been vacated by the soldier, 

 and that the Actinia never voluntarily selects an empty 

 shell for his base. 



The crab who sustains the honourable office of 

 porter to this species is invariably Pagurus hern- 

 hardus, as P. Prideauxii is favoured with the support 

 of Adamsia palliata. 



In the rude and blundering manner in which the 

 bearer performs his office, it cannot be but that the 

 poor Actinia gets many a hard knock, and many a 

 rough squeeze, among the rocks and stones over which 

 his servant travels ; but he appears to bear these mis- 

 chances with great philosophy : I know of no species 

 which lives so constantly expanded. A rude shock 



