THE CAVE-DWELLING ANEMONE. 95 



contraction and approximation of the column around the 

 retracted base ; and we proved its power of basal adhesion 

 in the specimen which came into my possession ; for it not 

 only attached itself by the entire broad base to the saucer — 

 and that repeatedly after having been removed — but during 

 the niarht marched several inches to seek shelter under a 

 shell. What had appeared to be an epidermis was nothing 

 but a ring of exuviated mucus, which was readily removed, 

 bringing away all the dirt, and leaving a clean smooth 

 Sagartia. The tentacle-feet displayed the B-mark, and 

 there seemed little to distinguish it from the normal 

 colouring, except the dingy drab hue of the column. 



A specimen of the var. firfvicornis, in my possession, 

 when disturbed, assumed a globular form, with the base 

 contracted to one-sixth of an inch in diameter, and became 

 very buoyant. It thus strongly reminded me of Mr. 

 Holdsworth's sphcero'ides. 



It seems the habit of the species to be very free ; and 

 this tendency more especially marks the mud-loving kinds 

 with a pale drab exterior. It is a common thing for one 

 of these to lie for weeks in a tank rolling loosely about 

 the bottom, alternately contracting and stretching its 

 column, and folding or expanding its tentacles at pleasure, 

 apparently quite healthy, and yet showing no inclination to 

 choose a settled residence. I have had many examples 

 with this habit, which, by and by, having sown their wild 

 oats, suddenly fix themselves, give up their vagrant ways, 

 and become sober housekeepers. Mr. Holdsworth writes 

 me of one which, after six months' captivity, " has not yet 

 attached itself, but wanders about, like a restless spirit 

 without a home." 



The suckers are in this species very adhesive ; and in 

 this vagabond condition it is not rare for the Anemone to 

 moor itself temporarily, not by the base, but by these 



