SEA-ANEMONES. b\) 



sopher,, for there was nothing really repugnant in the 

 taste. As soon as I had got one that seemed well cooked, 

 I invited Mrs. G. to share the feast; she courageously at- 

 tacked the morsel, but I am compelled to confess it could 

 not pass the vestibule ; the sentinel was one too many for 

 her. My little boy, however, voted that 'tinny was good,^ 

 and that ' he liked tinny,' and loudly demanded more, like 

 another Oliver Twist. As for me, I proved the truth of 

 the adage, ' Ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute f for after 

 the first defeat my sentinel was cowed. I left little in the 

 dish.'' Afterwards, frying them with egg and butter-crumbs, 

 they were found far superior to the others, " all prejudice 

 yielded to their inviting odour and appearance, and the 

 whole table joined the repast with evident gusto." Thus, 

 eating or being eaten, the sea-flowers fill up their appointed 

 place in the world's economy. 



Active, fearless, and powerful as the Actiniadce are in 

 the means adopted to secure their food when it comes 

 within reach, they are but sluggish creatures and show but 

 little instinct in their general habits. They will remain for 

 hours, and even days, in the same position ; and when they 

 do move, it is at an almost imperceptible pace ; perhaps 

 an inch in an hour. When removed from their site and 



