DIET OF THE ACTJNIJE. 65 



arose from the Aplysia (whose presence in the tank 

 I had forgotten) having died, and its body being 

 allowed to remain in the vessel in a decaying state. 

 The deceased animal on being removed emitted an 

 effluvium so intolerably bad that it seemed like the 

 concentrated essence of vile odours. The water, of 

 course, must have been of the most deadly character, 

 yet had this most delicate of sea anemones existed 

 in it for several consecutive days. 



In order further to test how long my little captive 

 would remain alive in its uncongenial habitation, I 

 cruelly refused to grant any succour, but must own 

 to having felt extremely gratified at perceiving, in 

 the course of a few days, that instead of remaining 

 with its body elongated to such an unusual extent, 

 the Dianthus gradually advanced along the base, 

 then up the side of the vessel, and finally located 

 itself in a certain spot, from which it could gain easy 

 access to the outer atmosphere. 



After this second instance of intelligence (?) I 

 speedily transferred my pet to a more healthy 

 situation. 



Having procured a small colony of Actiniae, you 

 need be under no anxiety about their diet, for they 

 will exist for years without any further subsistence 

 than is derived from the fluid in which they live. 

 Yet strange as the statement will appear to many 

 persons, the Actiniae are generally branded with the 

 character of being extremely greedy and voracious. 



