40 HISTOEY OF BRITISH ZOOPHYTES. 



" It appears that different persons are variously affected even 

 by touching the same Actinia. 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 Actinia 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 



