THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 79 
ferent specimens. Violet and amber shades frequently 
predominate in the tentacles. Sometimes the disk is of a 
pearly white, at others of a warm fawn or bright orange 
and scarlet, sometimes a deep crimson or a dull chocolate ; 
while the tentacles vary from pure white to dark brown, 
dingy fawn, and brick-dust red. The latter organs are 
very numerous and tubular. When irritated, the crea- 
ture has the power of attaching the tentacles to the 
object which annoys it, and in this way it frequently 
clings to the fingers when handled, and at the same time 
squirts out numerous jets of water, until it is quite 
empty and collapsed. 
Actinia Parasitica.—This is a good aquarium species, 
on account of the ease with which it may be kept. It is 
a species that the rambler on the sea-beach will not be at 
all likely to meet with, for it is truly pelagic in its habit. 
It is only to be obtained in a state fit for the aquarium 
by means of the dredge, and when so obtained it lives a 
long while in confinement. 
The most interesting feature in the history of this 
zoophyte is that of its usually inhabiting the shell of 
some defunct univalve mollusk, such as the Trochus, or 
the great whelk, Buccinum undatum. This is not the 
most curious part of its history. The anemone loves 
company, and in the same shell as that on which it extends 
itself, we usually find a pretty but pugnacious crab, 
Pagurus bernhardus. To the anemone the crab acts as 
porter ; he drags the shell about with him as if it were a 
palanquin, on which sits enthroned a very bloated but 
gaily-dressed potentate, destitute of power to move it for 
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