86 THE SEA ANEMONE. 



markable fact in reference to one of these creatures. 

 " I had once brought to me an actinia* that might 

 have been originally two inches in diameter, and that 

 had somehow contrived to swallow a valve of the 

 common scallop, j of the size of an ordinary saucer. 

 The shell fixed within the stomach was so placed 

 as to divide it completely into halves, so that the 

 body, stretched tensely over, had become thin and 

 flattened like a pancake. All communication be- 

 tween the inferior portion of the stomach and the 

 mouth was of course prevented ; yet, instead of 

 emaciating and dying of atrophy, the animal had 

 availed itself of what had undoubtedly been a very 

 untoward accident to increase its enjoyments, and 

 its chances of double fare. A new mouth, furnished 

 with two rows of numerous arms, was opened upon 

 what had been the base, and led to the under 

 stomach. The individual had, indeed, become a 

 sort of Siamese twin, but with greater intimacy 

 and extent in its union !" 



The external part of the actinia consists of bundles 

 of muscular fibres, running in various directions, 

 some perpendicularly, others transversely. In the 

 intervening spaces between these fibres thus inter- 

 laced, are numerous small granular bodies, which 

 are universally distributed, except on the sucking 

 base or disc. Over this tissue is a mucous layer, 

 forming a species of outer skin, which appears to be 

 thrown off at intervals and renewed. The stomach, 

 * Actinia gemmacea. f Pecten maximus. 



