

THE DAISY ANEMONE. 33 



narrow shallow pools, the bottoms of which run down into 

 thin crevices. In these crevices reside the Daisies in 

 question, in great numbers, and some of them of very large 

 dimensions, as three inches in diameter, when fully ex- 

 panded. They are, however, as I have said above, mostly 

 so crowded together, that they are not able to spread their 

 blossom-disks fully, but are fain to accommodate each 

 other, by allowing the protrusions of one sinuous and frilled 

 margin to fit into the recesses of another. They thus con- 

 stitute lines of variegated frills, in which the individuals 

 cannot be separated by the eye of the beholder ; and though 

 no brilliant hues appear, there is sufficient contrast between 

 the black and the white, the blue and the grey, all 

 puckered and convoluted as the fringed outlines are, to 

 gratify the eye. 



Nor are these very difficult of possession. For the con- 

 glomerate, though hard, yields readily to the chisel, and 

 the edges of the crevices present in many cases fair angles 

 for the blows of the experienced collector. 



The Daisy is not unfrequently brought up in the dredge 

 from a few fathoms' depth. In Weymouth Bay I have 

 repeatedly obtained it thus, but still maintaining its wonted 

 troglodyte habit; for its favourite domicile is one of the 

 deep angular chambers formed by the leafy expansions of 

 that fine coral-like Polyzoan, Eschar a foliacea. 



But Weymouth possesses a breed of the species which 

 deviates much more widely from the normal habit. It is 

 the variety which I have called sordida, having an eye not 

 less to its filthy dwelling-place than to its dirty colour. 

 The broad expanse of fetid mud, either wholly bare at 

 low tide, or covered only with a foot or two of water, that 

 floors the two inlets called the Fleet and the Backwater, 

 is studded with multitudes of these dingy Anemones. 

 The soft slimy mud affords no proper surface for adhesion ; 



D 



