306 



KNOWLEDGE • 



[Nov. 16, 1883. 



tentacula are elongated and can be distinctly seen to be 

 tubular -nitli an orifice at each apex, and when touched 

 after being taken out of their native element, will some- 

 times squirt thin jets of water more than a foot in height, 

 and these will continue to rise until the body is nearly 

 emptied and diminished to half its former dimensions. 



This species varies widely also in wartiness ; in some 

 individuals these protuberances are very small, and in 

 others the body is quite smooth. More frequently, how- 

 ever, the column is covered with warty glands, by means 

 of which gravel and fragments of shells are attached to it 

 so as to completely obscure the animal, and produce the 

 appearance of a heap of sand and shells. Mr. Gosse, with 

 respect to this habit, observes that you may hunt among 

 the rocks till the rising tide covers them and, finding 

 hundreds of Strawberries but not a single Dahlia, go away 

 with the coQviction that the latter is a scarce species ; but 

 to-morrow an initiated friend accompanies you to the 

 same spot, and, pointing with his toe to the angle, says, 

 Here they are I and here 1 and here ! Three, four, and 

 half a dozen in a group, and you are tired of collecting 

 before the profusion fails. 



Dr. Johnston, the chief authority between Ellis and 

 Gosse, asserts (Vol. I., p. 226) that Actinia crassicornis 

 never indues itself with an extraneous covering, which 

 statement is true only of specimens found in deep water 

 and tidal hollows that are always full. In such situations 

 this gorgeous being remains constantly expanded and 

 unconcealed. The doctor's declaration means, apparently, 

 that he had never met with a specimen on the dry beach. 



Although Dahlia is among the largest and most showy 

 of British anemones, and very attractive in an aquarium, 

 it is very ti'oublesome and difficult to keep in health. If 

 not carefully removed from its site with the stone to which 

 it is attached, it will rarely live even for a week, and the 

 least injury to the base or column nearly always proves 

 fatal. 



After obtaining a perfect individual free from injury, the 

 utmost possible care should be used in cleansing the stone 

 and keeping the water in the tank pure. On the other 

 hand, as a recompense to the collector for his trouble, it 

 must be remembered that this species is very beautiful, and 

 if a few examples can be obtained and kept in health, they 

 will add greatly to the beauty of his tank. 



The tentacles possess the power of clinging strongly to 

 any substance with which they come in contact. On one 

 occasion, says Mr. Crouch (Johnston, I., p. 22.3), while 

 watching a specimen that was covered merely by a rim of 

 water, a bee, wandering near, darted through the water to 

 the mouth of the animal, evidently mistaking the creature 

 for a flower, and though it struggled a great deal to get 

 free, was retained till it was drowned, and was then 

 swallowed. 



A few old writers have related as a fact that Actinia' 

 were occasionally eaten as a delicacy, and some modern 

 philosophers by a process of inductive reasoning have 

 arrived at the conclusion that sea anemones generally, 

 and Crassicornis more particularly, should be good for 

 human food, and have made most laudable efforts to prove 

 the truth of their reasoning in a practical way. They 

 have proceeded so far as to cook and to eat (or rather 

 swallow) specimens of this species, with the curious result 

 that though they commend the dish to others, they express 

 no wish themselves again to partake of it. 



Abbe Dioquemare, Professor of Experimental Philosophy 

 at Havre de Grace, in a paper which was read before the 

 Royal Society, gives his surmises and subsequent experi- 

 ences as follows : — " Might not these animals become a 

 fresh supply for our tables, and thereby make amends for 



the consumption of muscles on which they feed 1 In order 

 to try the experiment, I gave some anemones boiled in 

 plain water to a cat, who devoured readily twenty of them 

 without any bad efl'ect, and seemed wishful to have more. 

 This induced me to make a further trial, and to get some 

 of them coUoped as we do oysters. I swallowed them 

 up myself. Perliaps they may prove still more palatable 

 dressed in some other manner; however, they may be eaten 

 safely." 



In another paper. Professor Dicquemare says, " 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 appear- 

 ance, 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." The mouth waters, writes Dr. Johnson, 

 at the liquorish description, and I daresay that sea 

 anemones are not less a luxury than the sea urchins of 

 the tasteful Greeks, or the snails of the Roman epicures, 

 but I have not been tempted to test its truth. Ronlelatius, 

 having, as I think. Actinia crassicornis in view, is an older 

 witness to its daintiness, and he tells us that it brings a 

 good price at Bordeaux : " lis la la vent fort et souvent, puis 

 la fricassent legerement en la poele." Actinia dianthus 

 also is "good to eat," quoth Dicquemare; and Plancus 

 directs the cook to dress this after the manner of dressing 

 oysters, with which it is frequently eaten. Even the hot 

 and peppery anthea has its praise ; from it they prepare 

 the dish called Eastegna, which is a favourite in Provenge. 



Mr. Gosse, in his " Naturalist's Rambles on the Coast 

 of Devon," a most delightful work which all who can 

 should possess, goes much further, and gives every detail 

 necessary for the preparation of an appetising dish of 

 Crassicornis. In our next communication, with the kind 

 permission of the author, we propose to give the paragraph 

 in exieiiso. 



Japanese miners have some curious customs which sadly 

 depreciate the value of their work. They do not appear to 

 appreciate the fact that " time is money." An engineer 

 who has just returned from the mines of that country tells 

 the Engineering and Mining Journal that they light them 

 in a peculiar manner. Every man entering the mine 

 carries with him a large bundle of from .5 ft. to G ft. of 

 bamboo cane, slightly beaten before nse. This cane is used 

 as a torch. It burns fairly well for a few seconds^ until 

 a knot is reached, when the light nearly goes out, and the 

 ashes must be knocked ofl', a process which must be re- 

 peated every half-minute. Every six or seven minutes a 

 new cane must be lighted, so that a good share of the 

 miner's time is occupied in keeping his illumination in a 

 fairly satisfactory condition. Unfortunately Japanese 

 miners are, besides, great smokers, and they use a pipe 

 having a bowl the capacity of which is equal to that of an 

 ordinary thimble. It takes two whiffs to finish it, when 

 the process of fiUing-up and lighting it must be gone 

 through. Everyone has probably had occasion to watch 

 the great deliberation with which an average Irishman, 

 when at work, will till his clay bowl when the foreman's 

 gaze is not on him, but imagination simply shrinks from 

 the task of picturing the rapid progress of work intrusted 

 to a smoking Japanese miner. 



The Beautifl'i. Brocaded Silk IIaxdkebchiefs. "which have a world-wide 

 demand, owing to their cheapness and quality, should be obtained by every reader 

 of this paper. Thev are choics in design, and may be had in any colour to suit all 

 tastes. The size is'2S in. sq., making them suitable for the neck or pocket. The 

 price is. Is. or 13 stamps, 2 for 25.. or 21 stamps, 6 for 5s., or 60 stamps, 12 for 93., 

 or 103 stamps. AVe would urge all readers to send at once, either postal orders or 

 stamps, and direct your letters to— R. Thompsoh & Co., Commercial-buildings, 

 Stockport. — See Adti., in another column. 



