68 ACTING EATING CRABS. 



quently chosen a specimen well situated for obser- 

 vation, and dropped a crab upon its tentacula. 

 Instantly the intruding animal was grasped (perhaps 

 merely by a claw), but in spite of its struggles to 

 escape, was slowly drawn into the mouth of its 

 captor, and eventually consumed. In one case, after 

 the crab had been lost to view for the space of three 

 minutes only, I drew it out of the Actinia, but 

 although not quite dead, it evidently did not seem 

 likely to survive for any length of time. 



In collecting Actiniae great care should be taken 

 in detaching them from their position. If possible, 

 it is far the better plan not to disturb them, but to 

 transport them to the aquarium on the piece of rock 

 or other substance to which they may happen to be 

 affixed. This can in general be done by a smart 

 blow of the chisel and hammer. 



Should the attempt fail, an endeavour should be 

 made to insinuate the finger nails under the base, 

 and so detach each specimen uninjured. This ope- 

 ration is a delicate one, requiring practice, much 

 patience, and no little skill. We are told by some 

 authors that a slight rent is of no consequence, since 

 the anemone is represented as having the power of 

 darning it up. It may be so, but for my part I am 

 inclined in other instances to consider the statement 

 more facetious than truthful. In making this 

 remark, I allude solely to the disc of the animal, an 

 injury to which I have never seen repaired. On the 



