242 APPENDIX, 
PLATE. Vi 
CORALS AND SEA ANEMONES. 
ACTINIA MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. Pl. VI. fig. La. 
THIS common species is more frequently met with 
than many others, because it prefers shallow water, 
and often lives high up among rocks which are only 
covered by the sea at very high tide; so that the 
creature can, if it will, spend but a short portion of 
its time immersed. When uncovered by the tide, 
it gathers up its leathery tunic, and presents the 
appearance of fig. 1a. When under water it may 
often be seen expanding its flower-like disk and 
moving its feelers in search of food. These feelers 
have a certain power of adhesion, and any not too 
vigorous animals which they touch are easily drawn 
towards the centre and swallowed. Around the 
margin of the tunic are seen peeping out between 
the tentacles certain bright blue globules looking 
