EOLIS. 139 



effect. The latter has these organs branching out 

 over its entire body like semi-transparent quills, giv- 

 ing a most remarkable appearance to the animal as it 

 glides along. Both are to be found adherent to the 

 under surface of stones, &c. 



The writer had always been led to believe that 

 these animals were very voracious, and, indeed, that 

 " a wolf would be about as appropriate an inmate of 

 a sheep-fold, as one of them in an Aquarium where 

 Sea-anemones live." Naturally, in consequence of 

 this sweeping assertion against the beautiful Eolis, 

 he watched his specimen with considerable attention 

 for several weeks, and came to the conclusion that he 

 had been shamefully libelled by sundry writers. But 

 that this opinion on his part was premature, he one 

 day discovered. Happening to give my usual peep 

 into the tank before going to bed, I saw plainly that 

 my Eolis "was no better than he should be," and 

 that the charge of greed brought against him was 

 perfectly correct. I was therefore obliged to come to 

 the conclusion that his quiet, sedate manner, was 

 merely assumed for my deception. During the dusk 

 of evening, the little fellow had crept to the neigh- 

 bourhood of a sweet purple Bellis, that sat flowering 

 on a grassy bank. Upon my first discovering him, 

 he had just reached the object of his attack. The 

 plan of his operation was rather remarkable. It 

 seemed as if he possessed the power of fascinating 

 his victim by a basilisk glance ; for if I touched the 

 little Daisy, though ever so slightly, it would close 



