70 



THE AQUAVIVARIUM. 



any kind of treatment, and live for a great length 

 of time. A friend of mine had some very lively 

 ones which had been brought up from the sea-side 

 in a wine-bottle, which had been emptied of its 

 sea-water, and sent to a neighbouring public-house 

 for beer. The mistake was discovered, and the 

 creatures were transferred to their natural ele- 

 ment, where they flourished for many months. 

 There is a large form, called Actinia crassicornis, 

 which is probably a variety of the last. Third, 

 the Actinia Mesembryanihemvm, Fig. 34. Like the 

 last, it is subject to great variety of colour. It 

 is known by the row 

 of beautiful blue tu- 

 bercles around its 

 mouth. It lives be- 

 tween tide-marks, 

 and entirely incloses 

 its tentacles within 

 its body when out of 

 the water. But for 

 further information 

 on this and the many FIG. 34. 



other interesting spe- 

 cies of Actinia, I must refer the reader to John- 

 ston's " History of British Zoophytes," Mr. Gosse's 

 " Aquarium," k and Dr. Landsborough's "Zoophytes." 



I have now finished my task, and trust this little 

 book will contribute to a taste for the cultivation of 

 natural history pursuits. The Aquavivarium may 

 be made a source of amusement, instruction, and 

 improvement. Those who commence it for amuse- 

 ment will, I trust, not be satisfied with that end, 



