ACTINIA. 201 



the naturalist, though a prelude to decay and death : and the protrusion 

 or eversion of the stomach becomes alike fatal. But at other times the 

 stomach may be everted and replaced without any evil consequence. 



The skin is cast very often, especially after feeding greedily, as well 

 as from continued abstinence. It seems to be distempered also from ex- 

 posure by evaporation of the water, and then separates. This exuviation 

 extends in some species to the tentacula, the skin coming off in rings or 

 belts. In the natural state, the Actinia is freed of the slough by the 

 washing of the waves, and in confinement the body will be encircled as by 

 a girdle, when it should be cut asunder with scissors, or brushed off with 

 a feather, which will induce the expansion, and promote the beauty of the 

 specimen. 



The Actinia is endowed with a very slow locomotive faculty, rarely 

 exercised, and then accomplished only by extending one edge of the base 

 imperceptibly over the adjacent surface and withdrawing the other. Thus 

 is the most languid and tardy progression effected. But a specimen will 

 remain a long time stationary, either contracted in crevices, shewing itself 

 only as incited to swell by the flowing tide, or closing itself up as the sea 

 recedes, when adhering to the open surface of rocks. Its abode is perma- 

 nent also in those larger or more diminutive pools, always full, where it 

 may remain constantly displayed. Besides this, the Actinia can detach 

 itself entirely from its position when it is floated away reversed, doing so 

 perhaps during exuviation of the base. 



The difficulty of removing specimens from their native site is a great 

 obstruction to the study of those which the observer would select in pre- 

 ference. In confinement, some quit their hold when remaining dry for a 

 considerable time : others are disposed to shift their place, or to detach 

 themselves, if the water be rendered very impure. But no effect is thus 

 produced on many ; nor does any thing whatever induce them to move or 

 to abandon their fixture. They remain to perish. The only practicable 

 method to obtain a desirable object, is, where possible, to cut the hard 

 surface below it, a tedious and precarious alternative, yet one wherein 

 I have repeatedly succeeded. 



VOL. II. 2 C 



