122 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



creatures in a tank is extremely picturesque, espe- 

 cially to persons unacquainted with them. It is 

 difficult to convince such that those pretty flower- 

 like objects are possessed of life, or that they can 

 exhibit such marks of volition, as when touched either 

 to disappear altogether in the sand, or to present only 

 a small unsightly knob of dirty white jelly. They 

 are so hardy, that having once affixed themselves, 

 and become attached to their new home, they will 

 bloom and excite your admiration many months 

 throughout winter or summer. I remember two 

 that remained alive at the bottom of the tank, after 

 I had emptied it of all its contents, and washed it 

 thoroughly with fresh water, which is generally sup- 

 posed to act as a poison upon them. 



The members of the next species, which has the 

 disadvantage of possessing a very long name, Actinia 

 mesembryanthemum (in colloquial parlance abbreviated 

 to "Mess"), or Smooth-anemone, are very numerous, 

 and may be found pendant from the under parts of 

 rocks, situated at, or even beyond, the highest tide- 

 mark. They are in consequence very hardy, and well 

 adapted to flourish in an Aquarium; but they are 

 unfortunately, in every respect, inferior in beauty and 

 effect to their little sister Daisies. They possess, 

 however, one pleasant feature peculiar to themselves, 

 namely, a string of gems always attached to their 

 necks. These gems exactly resemble in shape and 

 colour the blue turquoise, and when contrasted to 

 the creature's tawny skin, have a charming appear- 



