Fish and Their Fabulous Neighbors [189 



pedition is out of the question for most of us, so it is fortunate 

 that a number of these tropical wonders can be seen much closer 

 to home in tide pools along the shore, and on rocky coasts and 

 sandy beaches. 



Looking for these creatures and learning something of their 

 way of life can become a delightful summer hobby. You will find 

 that a magnifying hand lens is a valuable piece of equipment to 

 help the youngster enjoy his discoveries to the fullest. Children 

 of six or over can use a microscope to good advantage. 



STINGING HYDROIDS 



You can often come across hydroids as you examine a tide 

 pool. These are tiny creatures that like the giant sea anemones 

 of the coral reefs resemble flowers. When they are magnified, 

 the hydroids are revealed as animals. Like the corals, they are 

 known as polyps. Each individual is attached to a delicate stalk, 

 and it has numerous threadlike tentacles that are equipped with 

 stinging cells. Small creatures that come close are paralyzed and 

 drawn into the opening that serves the hydroid as a mouth. 

 Many hydroids are quite transparent, and for this reason they 

 are especially interesting to observe. 



FLOWER-LIKE SEA ANEMONES 



In the tide pools, too, you may find sea anemones, much 

 smaller than those of tropical seas yet larger than the hydroids. 

 When undisturbed, they expand into flower-like forms; but the) 

 can contract quickly into an unattractive jelly-like mass. When 

 they are in this form you will note their resemblance to jellyfish; 

 actually the two animals are closely related. 



Shellfish-They Aren't Really Fish 



A child running barefoot along the seashore is likely to have 

 an unpleasant encounter with these creatures, for their sharp 

 edges can inflict painful cuts. He soon learns to watch out for 

 mussels, clams, and all shellfish that are exposed to view during 

 low tide. He will surely wonder, too, how these animals can be 

 fish when they are so different from salmon, trout, or other 

 ' 'regular" fish. 



