24.0 HISTORY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 
“Tt appears that different persons are variously affected even 
by touching the same dActenia. The author had placed in 
a vessel of sea-water a fine specimen of the fig marygold 
sea-anemone, which she was accustomed to touch many 
times during the day. The tentacula closed immediately 
around the intruding finger, producing only a slight tingling. 
Her surprise was great at finding that the same anemone, 
on being touched by another person, communicated a more 
powerful sensation, which her friend assured her was felt up 
the whole of the arm. More than twenty persons touched 
this anemone, and the writer was amused by observing 
how variously they were affected; some being only slightly 
tingled, while others started back as if stung by a nettle.” 
The locomotive powers of the Actinig are not great. In 
the course of a few hours I have observed that they had 
removed some inches from their former position. Their 
tardy progression is effected by extending in advance one 
edge of the base, and drawing the opposite edge slowly after 
it. Its senses seem obtuse. Its most favourite food may be 
within a hair’s breadth, but it makes no attempt to seize it 
unless it come into actual contact. Though the tentacula 
are so capable of extension, there is no spontaneous elonga- 
tion, unless they accidentally touch the prey. More singular 
