348 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Experiment by Mr. Hughes. 



yellow, or a bright straw-colour, slightly tinged 

 with green. These had the appearance of a cir- 

 cular border of thick-set petals, about the size of 

 and much resembling those of the single garden 

 marigold. 



Mr. Hughes often attempted to pluck one of 

 them from the rock to which they were fixed, 

 but could never effect it. For as soon as his 

 fingers came within two or three inches of it, 

 it would immediately contract and close together 

 its yellow border, and shrink back into the hole 

 in the rock ; but, if left undisturbed for three or 

 four mirutes, it would come again gradually into 

 sight, expanding, though at first very cautiously, 

 what seemed its leaves till at last it appeared in 

 its former bloom: it would, however, again con- 

 tract, with surprising quickness, when his hand 

 approached within a little distance of it. This 

 gentleman also attempted to touch it with his 

 cane, and then with a slender rod; but the effect 

 was the same. The motion of the water, caused 

 by the immersion of the hand or stick, was no 

 doubt the cause of its invariably retreating when 

 any attempt was made to touch it. 



From the centre of the apparent flower pro- 

 ceeded four dark- coloured threads, somewhat re- 

 sembling the legs of a spider. These, which 

 were its arms or feelers, had a quick spontaneous 

 motion from side to side. Its body seemed to 

 be a small dark coloured tube, about as thick as 

 a raven's quill, one end of which was affixed to 



