382 



THE NATURE BOOK 



but for the presence of the malodorous, 

 thread-secreting Anemone, would quickly 

 gobble him up. 



A LIVING ALCYONIUM POLYP. 

 (The " Dead Man's Fingers," or "Cow-paps.") 



before looked a curious, rather unpleasant 

 mass, becomes converted into a beautiful 

 object — an active animal colony. 



Although generally missed or passed 

 over by the casual visitor, quite a number 

 of interesting Sponges are to be found in 

 the rock pools, and growing upon sea- 

 weeds and other objects. The " Crumb 

 of Bread " Sponge {Halichondria panicca) 

 may be found at its best about the region 

 of the half -tide, forming masses of from 

 six inches to several feet in diameter, and 

 varying in thickness from half an inch to 

 two or three inches. It is a Sponge that 

 varies very greatly, both as regards size 

 and colour. In situations where but 

 httle light can reach it, the " Crumb of 

 Bread " Sponge will be found growing 

 in an almost white mass, while in other 

 and more favourable conditions of lighting 

 it may be found forming large masses 

 green or yellow in colour. 



Oyster-shells whose surfaces are more 

 or less covered with small round holes 



Very different in general appearance from 

 the Anemones, although they form the hnk 

 between them and the compound corals of 

 the tropical seas, are those fleshy-looking 

 masses so frequently to be seen cast up 

 on the shore after a gale, and called " Dead 

 Man's Fingers," or "Cow-paps" [Akyoniitm 

 digitatum). If we examine one of these 

 masses, we shall find that it is soft to the 

 touch, and that it has been attached by 

 its base to a stone or rock : it is sometimes 

 to be found growing in knob-shaped masses 

 on old scallop shells, in company with 

 graceful sprays of Zoophytes. There is 

 one species of Alcyonium that may be 

 found in the pools at low-water mark 

 adhering to the rocks and weed. 



In general colour, the body-mass of the 

 " Cow-paps " varies from a yellowish- 

 white buff to orange-red. If one is 

 closely examined it will be seen that the 

 body is covered with numerous bum]^s or 

 papilhe. On placing one of these "Dead 

 Man's Fingers " in a vessel filled with fresh 

 sea-water, if still alive, it will soon present 

 a very remarkable appearance, for each of 

 the little papilhe will be seen slowly to 

 expand into a lovely flower-like animal, 

 and its graceful, petal-like tentacles will are common objects of the sea-shore, 

 slowly sway about and capture small living These holes are caused by a little burrow- 

 organisms : so that, what a few moments ing Sponge called Cliona, which eats its 



A COMMON BRANCHING SPONGE. 



