THE OPELET. 169 



and now the Bullhead, acknowledging his master, turned 

 tail, and darted into a hole on the opposite side of the tank 

 in manifest discomfiture. But if you, my gentle reader, be 

 disposed for exploits in gastronomy, do not be alarmed at 

 the Bullhead's failure : only take the precaution to " cook 

 your hare." Risso calls this species " edulis" and says of 

 it, — " On le mange en frtture" and I can say "probatum 

 est." No squeamishness of stomach prevents our volatile 

 friends, the French, from appreciating its excellence; for 

 the dish called Bastegna, which is a great favourite in 

 Provence, is mainly prepared from Anihea cereus. I 

 would not dare to say that an Opelet is as good as an 

 Omelet ; but chacun a son gout ; try for yourselves. The 

 dish is readily achieved. 



The species not unfrequently increases by spontaneous 

 division. I have elsewhere* given the details of a case of 

 this sort; since the publication of which I have received 

 from various correspondents accounts of the same pheno- 

 menon. The fission begins at the margin of the disk, and 

 gradually extends across and downward, until the separa- 

 tion is complete, when each moiety soon closes and forms 

 a perfect animal. It is, perhaps, only another phase of the 

 same tendency, that the tentacles are frequently forked. 



Anihea cereus has been observed in the following British 

 localities : — 



Jersey, G. G.: Guernsey, E.W.H.H.: Herm, 8. W.: 

 Ventnor, G. G. : Weymouth, P.H. G. : Lyme Regis, J. G. : 

 Dawlish, B. C. J. : Teignmouth, B. C. J. : Torquay, 

 P. H. G. : Falmouth, W. P. C. : Fowey, C. TV. P. : Pen- 

 zance, B. Q. C. : Scilly, G. H. L. : Ilfracombe, P. H. G. 

 Tenby, P.H. G.: Holyhead, E. L. W. : Man, F. H. W. 

 Cumbrae, D. B. : Oban, J. C. G. : Ballyholme Bay, W. T. 

 Newcastle (Co. Down), W. T. : Portrush, E. P. W. : Dublin 

 * Tenby, a Seaside Holiday, p. 373. 



