THE DAHLIA W’ARTLET. 
213 
panded, despising, or not needing, the precaution of con- 
cealment practised bj their tide-deserted brethren of the 
beach. It is a remarkable example of the economy of 
creation, that these tide-pool specimens, as well as those 
which are brought up from deep water, rarely, if ever, 
indue their bodies with an extraneous covering. 
In such pools crassicornis makes a noble appearance. 
His great size, the wide expanse of the flower, the thick 
tentacles so symmetrically disposed, and the rich hues 
often finely contrasted, — make it by far the most showy of 
our native species. By some of our fair collectors it has 
been named the Dahlia; a comparison which the size, 
symmetry, and varying hues of that favourite flower render 
not inapt. I have accordingly adopted it ; designating the 
preceding orange-hued species by the appellation of the 
Marigold. 
The resemblance has been acknowledged by one more 
conversant with flowers than even the ladies. “ On one 
occasion,” observes Hr. Jonathan Couch,* “ while watching 
a specimen that was covered merely by a rim of water,, 
a Bee, wandering near, darted through the water to the 
mouth of the animal, evidently mistaking the creature for 
a flower ; and though it struggled a great deal to get free, 
was retained till it was drowned, and was then swallowed.” 
Mr. E. L. Williams, who has enjoyed unusual opportu- 
nities of acquaintance with the deep sea, writes me con- 
cerning this species as follows : — “ When diving in bells at 
Dover, at the Admiralty Pier, in eight to ten fathoms’ 
water, I have often seen it, generally on the tops or sides 
of lumps of rock. The yEsop Prawn \Dandalm annuli- 
cornis Avas very common there, and seemed its food. I 
never saw a closed crassicornis in deep water, except while 
catching its prey.” 
* In Johnston’s Brit. Zooph. i. 225 ; et in litt. priv. 
