SEA ANEMONES. 125 
their hold, and leave themselves to be borne by the waves to 
deeper water, where they sink into a warmer clime. The instinct 
of these beautiful creatures is more certain in its promptings 
than even that of terrestrial animals; and, if we may judge by 
consequences, they may be said even to reason, like the higher 
vertebrata. The study of instinct among animals is certainly the 
grandest and most noble department of natural history, and ought 
to be pursued as much and more than those which generally 
gain attention. 
Under the influence of daylight, the anemone spreads itself 
out, opening its petals like an Easter-daisy. These tentacles 
extend and contract, go out and in, remain perfectly stationary, or 
move rapidly around the open mouth. Touch the animal with a 
stick, or even stir the water which surrounds it—immediately every- 
thing contracts, shuts up, and shrivels. When the anemone has 
spread his painted collarette, if a little worm, a young crustacean, 
or a fish just hatched, happens to come against it, the voracious 
animal pulls the imprudent wanderer into its gaping mouth, forces 
it into its stomach—e? consummatum est ! 
The life of the anemone is a continual ambush ; yet the fila- 
mentous tentacles of some species appear to be true offensive 
arms. Mr. Gosse tore off one of these filaments just as it had 
seized a little fish, but the captive only struggled feebly, and soon 
relaxed all effort. MM. Hollard has seen young mackerel roll upon 
their sides and die by a simple contact with an actinia. 
When the tentacles are touched, according to Mr. Rymer Jones, 
a somewhat stinging smart is felt ; for more than an hour the hand 
remains red and painful. If one of these organs be pulled off, and 
the tongue applied to the wound, a burning and corrosive sensation 
is experienced. This poisonous quality of the tentacles resides in 
minute organs which are spread out under the whole surface of 
the skin; these consist of innumerable capsules only visible to the 
microscope. They contain a thick twisted thread, breaking at the 
least touch; they thrust out this fibre, by which the tentacle sticks 
to the body 
as do certain prickly fruits. This thread is ordi- 
narily composed of one or more bands, twisted together in a spiral 
form, and each one is armed with little barbs. This apparatus 
serves to emit a very venomous fluid. 
