THE DAHLIA WARTLET. 213 



panded, despising, or not needing, the precaution of con- 

 cealment practised by their tide-deserted brethren of the 

 beach. It is a remarkable example of the economy of 

 creation, that these tide-pool specimens, as well as those 

 which are brought up from deep water, rarely, if ever, 

 indue their bodies with an extraneous covering. 



In such pools crassicornis makes a noble appearance. 

 His great size, the wide expanse of the flower, the thick 

 tentacles so symmetrically disposed, and the rich hues 

 often finely contrasted, — make it by far the most showy of 

 our native species. By some of our fair collectors it has 

 been named the Dahlia; a comparison which the size, 

 symmetry, and varying hues of that favourite flower render 

 not inapt. I have accordingly adopted it ; designating the 

 preceding orange-hued species by the appellation of the 

 Marigold. 



The resemblance has been acknowledged by one more 

 conversant with flowers than even the ladies. " On one 

 occasion," observes Mr. Jonathan Couch,* " 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." 



Mr. E. L. Williams, who has enjoyed unusual opportu- 

 nities of acquaintance with the deep sea, writes me con- 

 cerning this species as follows : — " When diving in bells at 

 Dover, at the Admiralty Pier, in eight to ten fathoms 1 

 water, I have often seen it, generally on the tops or sides 

 of lumps of rock. The iEsop Prawn [Pandalus annuli- 

 cornis?] was very common there, and seemed its food. I 

 never saw a closed crassicornis in deep water, except while 

 catching its prey." 



* In Johnston's Brit. Zooph. i. 225 ; et in litt. priv. 



