SEA-ANEMONES AND THEIR ALLIES. 69 



pool. If by any means you can wedge yourself down the 

 cleft, and obtain a foothold in the cavern beneath, you 

 may see dozens of specimens of Tealia crOSsicornis in full 

 expansion, and in almost every variety of tint. They 

 attach themselves to the perpendicular rock-walls, and, 

 apparently as a result of this mode of attachment, show 

 a much more typical " anemone-shape " than their flattened 

 brethren of the tidal pools. That is, the column reaches a 

 height equalling the diameter of the disc, and is truly 

 columnar; whereas in the other form it is short or squat. 

 Again, these deep pools contain no shell sand or gravel, 

 and the anemones are in consequence destitute of covering, 

 while the functionless warts have become small and incon- 

 spicuous. The colouring is brilliant, and it not infrequently 

 happens that the tentacles are uniformly coloured through- 

 out, or have merely a paler spot near the tip. In the 

 commoner form they are distinctly banded, which, from the 

 artistic point of view, is a much less effective scheme of 

 coloration. A colony of such anemones, all of large size 

 and all in full expansion, forms one of the most beautiful 

 of the many beautiful sights of the shore, and I know 

 few more fascinating occupations than that of successfully 

 forcing one's self into these caverns, and while maintain- 

 ing a somewhat uncertain foothold on the slippery sides, 

 studying every detail of colour and form. The roar of the 

 breakers at the mouth of the cleft, and the rush of water, 

 now in and now out, adds the spice of danger to the 

 occupation which is essential to fill up the tale of pleasur- 

 able sensations. These anemones, unlike those in shallow 

 pools, are easily detached without injury, but they rarely 

 live well in captivity; they doubtless miss there the 

 abundantly oxygenated water of their natural habitat. 

 If the t de permit it is easy in that natural habitat to 

 make observations on the diet. In spite of their frequently 

 fragile appearance the anemones in general are far from 

 having fairy appetites, and Tealia is especially voracious. 

 It seems to have a special preference for crabs, and may 

 often be seen disgorging the remnants of its victims. In 

 a quiet pool, indeed, I have seen a regular heap of dejecta 

 beneath the anemone a veritable kitchen midden on a small 

 scale. It is interesting to note that the colour of the shell 



