SEA-ANEMONES. 67 



as stomach, and from the internal cavity, into which the 

 digested food falls, there are channels which convey it all over 

 the body, whilst the indigestible portion is rolled up and 

 thrown out by the way it entered. 



The entire quantity of solid matter in an Anemone is very 

 small, as may be seen in certain species (/'.., the Snake-locked 

 Anemone) that become exceedingly thin and flat in the day- 

 time, but expand into a tall graceful column at night. In a 

 similar fashion the tentacles are constantly withdrawn by 

 becoming very small ; and the full expansion of these and of 

 the column is alike affected by the absorption of much water. 



Most of the Anemones attach themselves to rocks, shells, or 

 weeds, by means of the broad base of the column ; others have 

 a rounded base which is thrust down into sand and there 

 retained by inflation. They can move on this base, much 

 after the manner of a snail or slug, but more slowly ; some, 

 such as the Opelet, constantly inflate it to such an extent that 

 it becomes a swimming bladder, buoying them to the surface 

 of the water, along which they float inverted. 



Reproduction takes place in three ways : first, a division 

 may take place across the disk and mouth, and this be con- 

 tinued right down the column to the base ; second, buds may 

 appear on the disk or column and develop into complete 

 Anemones; third, by eggs, which are usually retained until 

 the germs have developed a row of tentacles, when they are 

 cast out from the mouth in batches. This last is the com- 

 monest mode ; and the extruded young at once attach them, 

 selves to the surface upon which they fall. 



The Beadlet gets its popular name from the row of blue 

 bead-like spherules to which notice has already been directed. 

 In one well-marked variety of this species the spherules lose 

 their azure hue and become quite white, whilst the normally 

 blue line at the base becomes flesh-coloured, or is entirely 

 absent. There are many other colour variations which it 

 would be foreign to the purpose of a simple handbook to 



