ANTHEAD^. 
16 -t 
side the belt of sand and roeks that is left uncovered at 
every tide [on the south side of Belfast Lough], is another, 
where the large sea-weeds, such as the tangle and sea- 
furbelows [Laminaria sp.), flourish. ... As our boat drew 
nigh to the shore, the large spreading fronds of the sea- 
weed became more and more distinct, until each was per- 
fectly revealed to us, below the unruffled surface of the sea. 
We had come at the time of low water; and, as we floated 
onward, could mark the glorious submarine forest which 
was beneath our boat. It rose and fell, it heaved and 
sank, as gracefully as the meadow yields to the breeze, or 
as the willows bow to the breath of April. As we came 
into shallower water, the broad outspread fronds of the sea- 
weed seemed studded with blossoms. What could they 
be? A few moments more disclosed the mystery: each 
blossom was endued with life and motion — it was a living 
Anthea !” 
The power exercised by this species, pre-eminently, of 
inflating portions of its body, swelling them out in large 
tumid lobes separated by deep sulci from the rest of the 
circumference, assists it in crawling. We will suppose the 
Antliea resting on the bottom of the vessel, when it feels 
a desire to mount the sides of the glass. Pushing out 
a great inflated lobe towards that side, the sole of which is 
free from the surface, it takes hold of the glass with tlie 
edge of the lobe ; and when the contact is firm, relaxing 
its former hold, it slowly drags forward the body, until the 
lobe is again lost in the general circumference, or even till 
the body projects in two smaller lobes, one on each side 
of the principal one. The base being now made firmly to 
adhere, again the lobe is freed, and again protruded, and 
the same process is repeated until the animal is satisfied 
with the position it has gained. Sometimes this is at mid- 
height, tlie intertwined tentacles streaming loosely down 
