54 THE STORY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



Sea-Anemones may be found on almost every 

 rocky part of the English shores. Look for them 

 in pools towards low-tide mark ; if uncovered by 

 the water, they will be found with the arms 

 drawn in, so that the animal looks merely like a 

 small round knob of shiny opaque coloured jelly; 

 if covered by the water, they will usually be 

 found open, that is to say, with the arms (often 

 called Tentacles) spread out. In the middle of 

 the circle of arms is the mouth ; and the apparent 

 " flower " possesses an excellent appetite, as will 

 readily be seen if any unfortunate little shrimp 

 or sea-snail should come within reach of the arms. 

 The latter will then at once contract upon it, and 

 draw it into the mouth. Touch any of the com- 

 mon Sea-Anemones, and you will find that it is 

 firmly fixed to the rock ; at an early period of 

 life it becomes fixed, and practically it remains 

 always in one place, although a slight movement 

 of the base is sometimes possible. Hence the 

 advantage of the " radial " structure, for the arms 

 reach equally in all directions round that most 

 important centre of activity, the mouth. The 

 most common kind of Sea-Anemone is of a dull 

 dark red colour, and small in size ; but others are 

 large and brilliant in colouring. No uncoloured 

 drawing would convey much idea of their beauty ; 

 the reader should consult the works of the late 

 P. Gosse, an authority on Sea-Anemones, in 

 whose books many beautiful illustrations will be 

 found. 



A much smaller animal than the Sea- Anemone 

 is found in fresh water and is called Hydra. Its 

 arms or tentacles are longer in proportion to its 

 body, especially in one species, than is the case 

 in the Sea-Anemones. Hence its name, fancifully 



