188 THE OCEAN WOKLD. 



the sedentary zoophyte and the vagrant crustacean becomes serious. 

 When the former is strong and robust, the aggression is repelled, and 

 the shrimp runs the risk of supplementing the repast of the anemone." 



If the actinias are voracious, they can also support a prolonged 

 period of fasting. They have been known to live two and even three 

 years without having received any nourishment."* 



Although the sea anemone is said to be delicate eating, man derives 

 very little benefit from them in that respect. In Provence, Italy, and 

 Greece, the Green Actinia is in great repute, and Dicquemare speaks of 

 A. crassicornis as delicate food. " Of all the kinds of sea anemones, I 

 would prefer this for the table ; being boiled some time in sea water, 

 they acquire a firm and palatable consistence, and may then be eaten 

 with any kind of sauce. They are of an inviting appearance, of a 

 light shivering texture, and of a soft white and reddish hue. Their 

 smell is not unlike that of a warm crab or lobster." Dr. Johnston 

 admits the tempting description, and does not doubt their being not 

 less a luxury than the sea urchins of the Greeks, or the snails of the 

 Eoman epicures, but he was not induced to test its truth. Eondeletius 

 tells us, having, as Dr. Johnston thinks, A. crassicornis in view, that it 

 brings a good price at Bordeaux. Actinia dianthus also is good to 

 eat, quoth Dicquemare, and Plaucus directs the cook to dress it after 

 the manner of dressing oysters, with which it is frequently eaten. 

 Actinia coriacea is found in the market at Kochefort during the 

 months of January, February, and March. Its flesh is said to be 

 both delicate and savoury. 



With these general considerations, we proceed to note some of the 

 more remarkable genera and species of these interesting creatures. 

 Among these, the species represented in PL. IV. are those usually 

 seen collected in such aquariums as those of the Zoological Gardens of 

 London and the Gardens of Acclimatization of Paris. 



The first section of the Actiniadte, according to Milne Edwards, in- 

 cludes the Common Actinia, the feet of which are broad and adherent, 

 the lateral walls soft and imperforate. To this section belongs, among 

 others, the genera Anemonia, Actinia, and Metridium. 



The Green Actinia (A. viridis) has very numerous tentacula, some- 

 times as many as two hundred, exceeding in length the breadth of the 



* " On en a vu vivre deux et meme trois ans, sans reeevoir de nourriture." Vie de$ 

 Animaux, p. 117, 



