54 AN INTELLIGENT ANEMONE. 



of admiration not only to my juvenile visitors, but 

 also to many ' children of larger growth/ 



There is a curious fact in connection with the 

 Actiniae which deserves to be chronicled here. I 

 allude to the apparent instinct which they possess. 

 This power I have seen exercised at various times. 

 The following is a somewhat remarkable instance of 

 the peculiarity in question. 



In a small glass vase was deposited a choice A. 

 dianthus, about an inch in diameter. The water in 

 the vessel was at least five inches in depth. Having 

 several specimens of the A ply sice, I placed one in 

 companionship with the anemone, and was often 

 amused to observe the former floating head down- 

 ward upon the surface of the water. After a while 

 it took up a position at the base of the vase, and 

 remained there for nearly a week. Knowing the 

 natural sluggishness of the animal, its passiveness 

 did not cause me any anxiety. I was rather 

 annoyed, however, at observing that the fluid was 

 becoming somewhat opaque, and that the Dianthus 

 remained entirely closed, and intended to find out the 

 cause of the phenomena, but from some reason or other 

 failed to carry out this laudable purpose at the time. 

 After the lapse of a few days, on looking into the tank, 

 I was delighted to perceive the lace-like tentacula of 

 the actinia spread out on the surface of the water, 

 which had become more muddy-looking than before. 



I soon discovered that the impurity in question 



