78 



CHAPTER IV. 



SEA-ANEMOJTES, OK ACTINIAD.E. — TENACITY OF LIFE. — REPRODUCTION OF 

 PARTS. — DOrBLE-HEADED SPECIMEN. — POWER OF STINGING. — FOOD.— 

 MORALIZATION, OR PURPOSELESS EXISTENCE. — CHANGES OF FORM. — 

 CLASSIFICATION. 



" Pray, Mr. Staniiope, wbat's the Dews in town ? 

 Madam, I know of none ; but I'm just come 

 From seeing a curiosity at home ; 

 'T was sent to Martin Folkes, as being rare. 

 And he and Desaguliers brought it there : 

 It's called a Polypus ! — What's that ? —A creature, 

 The wonderfuUest of all the works of Natiu'e. 

 Thither it came from Holland, where 't was caught 

 (1 should not say it came, for it w^as brought.) 

 Tomorrow we're to have it at Crane Com-t."* — Sir C. Williams. 



The first and only Marine Aquarium possessed by many is 

 the basin of sea-water in which they have, perchance, while 

 young, placed that wonderful polypus which they have taken 



* Where the Royal Society held its meetings and kept its Museum, from 

 1710 to 1782. 



