608 Badiata. 



tentacles. The tentacles are sometimes short and stout, 

 sometimes long and slender ; they are generally adorned 

 with vivid or delicate colours, often disposed in rings 

 and contrasting beautifully with the colours of the stem 

 and disc. In their expanded state they present a close 

 resemblance to a flower, and indeed vie with many 

 flowers in beauty ; hence the name of Animal Flowers was 

 given to them formerly, and has now given place to that 

 of Sea Anemones, although they are rather to be com- 

 pared with those composite flowers in which numerous 

 petal-like flowerets radiate from a central disc. When 

 contracted, the Sea Anemones resemble soft knobs or 

 buttons, with a depression at the top. 



In describing the Stony Corals, the fact has been 

 mentioned that the Polyps, which may be regarded as 

 the architects of those extraordinary structures, are very 

 similar to the Sea Anemones. In the latter, the cavity 

 surrounding the central stomach is partially divided into 

 chambers, by partitions, which run inwards from the 

 circumference towards the centre ; in the Coral Polyps 

 each of these partitions produces a stony plate in its 

 substance, and these plates form the rays which occupy 

 the interior of the Polyp-cell. 



The Sea Anemones move slowly along by the action 

 of their adhering disc, somewhat in the same way that 

 a snail or slug crawls upon the ground. Their food is 

 obtained by means of the tentacles which give them their 

 beautiful flower-like character, and to render them effi- 

 cient organs for this purpose they are endowed with a 

 singular provision. The skin of the tentacles, and, 

 indeed, of most parts of the Sea Anemone is filled with 

 little cells or vesicles, each containing a spiral thread, 

 which when touched instantly darts forth, and penetrates 

 the body coming in contact with it. In this way, if a 

 worm, a small fish, or any other soft animal touches the 

 tentacles of an Anemone, it is instantly transfixed with 

 innumerable delicate darts, which not only assist the 

 tentacles in holding the destined prey, but also seem to 

 exercise a sort of numbing influence upon the victim, 

 deadening his struggles and rendering him an easy 

 conquest. He is then speedily passed by the tentacles 



