DWELLERS OF THE SURF 125 



The anemones are most wonderful in the deHghtful versa- 

 tility of their modes of reproduction. They can quite casually 

 split themselves in two, either crossways or vertically, and be- 

 come in a short time a pair of identical twins; or perhaps not 

 desiring to lead a dual existence they can assume the character- 

 istics of the flowers which they so much resemble and sprout 

 buds on their stems. Unlike flowers, however, these buds are 

 not allowed to come to fruition but are pinched off by a con- 

 striction near the base and are dropped near by on the rocks. 

 Righting themselves these buds grasp the boulders and begin 

 their individual lives by expanding their newly formed tenta- 

 cles for whatever fate or the currents may bring them. If neither 

 of these methods will suffice the anemones have still another 

 system; the eggs may be cast forth to be fertilized at the will 

 of the water or they may be retained in the cavity of the body 

 until they become full-sized embryos. This versatility is their 

 insurance that the race of anemones will never die. 



I thought I had exhausted the potentialities of these organisms 

 when I picked a boulder out of the bottom of the pool and 

 cast it over the edge. It slipped from my hand and as it fell 

 it rolled heavily through a cluster that was growing like a small 

 suburb near a larger city of anemones. The suburb was all but 

 wiped out. Many were terribly crushed and mangled, tentacles 

 were torn off and split, several individuals were cut in two. 

 Certainly, I thought, this would be the end of the little colony. 

 But it was not. In a few days the missing tentacles were re- 

 generated; the split individuals became two animals instead of 

 one, each half burgeoning out fully formed and complete; the 

 mangled sections were all healed and repaired. This was their 

 ace in the hole. When every other method of resistance to their 

 stormy environment failed them and when the force of the 

 waves tore them to shreds or they were ground against wave- 

 cast boulders, even when their tentacular arms with which they 



