THE CCELENTERATA 37 



tentacles ; some are uniform lilac-coloured, others purple, 

 some various shades of orange ; but the most ordinary 

 coloration is the column mottled red and orange, the disc 

 pearly white, and the tentacles cross-banded with red, buff, 

 and white. 



For some years I had an aquarium tank in which was a 

 rock about three feet high and the same in breadth. This 

 was covered with Tealia, and no flower garden in the height 

 of its glory could compare with this display. 



Although this splendid object is common on most of our 

 shores it is very possible that the visitor may fail to see it. 

 It belongs to the lowest zone in tide range (and extends 

 into deep water), and when not expanded is very easily 

 passed over, as it has a very efficient method of conceal- 

 ment. The outside of its column is studded with many 

 little suckers, which hold small stones and bits of shell, so 

 that when it retracts its tentacles and assumes the form 

 of a rounded lump, about the size of an orange, it looks just 

 a part of its surroundings. So that " that man should 

 never trust his eyes who has not learned to look." 



At the foot of rocks where there is gravelly surround- 

 ings, and in crevices, sometimes in caves and grottos where 

 the light is dim, many a gravelly lump will, if touched with 

 the finger, be found to be yielding. It is a " crass " in 

 mufti ; but if in some quiet low-tide pool one or two are 

 seen in full expansion, then I can answer for the statement 

 that they will arrest attention. 



One is shown in Fig. 14. 



At the other extreme as regards size are the little Cory- 

 nactis. These are about as large as peas. They also are of 

 lovely colours red, green, white, and magenta. They 

 usually live in colonies. In some places in Cornwall and 

 Devon, in Guernsey, Sark, Herm Island, etc., they are 

 abundant. Strangely enough, in Jersey, so rich in all other 

 kinds, they are exceedingly scarce. 



