52 SAGARTIAD^. 



palmata that spring from the edges, you see the dark brown 

 walls and bottom of the pool, — which is rilled to the brim 

 with quiet crystal water, — all studded over with the 

 expanded disks of rosece, nwece, and venustce. Then indeed 

 the sloping sides and bottom resemble a parterre, of which 

 these are the lovely flowers; while the tufts of green, 

 brown and purple Algse that spring up everywhere around, 

 some like moss, some like fantastically cut leaves, may well 

 serve for the foliage of the " fairy paradise." 



** In hollows of the tide- worn reef, 



Left at low water, glistening in the sun, 

 Pellucid pools, and rocks in miniature, 

 With their small fry of fishes, crusted shells, 

 Rich mosses, tree-like sea-weeds, sparkling pebbles, 

 Enchant the eye, and tempt the eager hand 

 To violate the fairy paradise." 



It is equally attractive in those imitations of such rock- 

 pools, which we make in glass tanks and china pans for 

 our drawing-rooms. But, like the other species of the 

 group to which it belongs, it is a somewhat precarious 

 tenant of the Aquarium. I have kept at different times a 

 large number of specimens ; but none of them, so far as 

 I can remember, survived a twelvemonth's captivity. A 

 dark-coloured mass of rock suits it best, serving as a back- 

 ground for its rich crimson blossom. It loves the shadow, 

 too ; and should therefore be placed on the side farthest 

 from the light. A rough perpendicular surface is very 

 appropriate for it. 



The Rosy Anemone occasionally protrudes the walls of 

 the stomach, like B. crassicornis, which then overlap the 

 disk in large furrowed pellucid lobes. It sometimes 

 distends the tentacles till they are translucent, and then it 

 is not uncommon to see the free ends of the acontia, lying 

 within these organs in coils, having penetrated through the 

 open base of the tentacle from the intersepts of the body- 



