60 SIZE OF THE ' CRASS.' 



captives should not be grudgingly, but lovingly per- 

 formed by the student. His labour frequently meets 

 with ample reward, in the improved appearance 

 which his specimens exhibit. Instead of looking 

 sickly and weak, with mouth pouting, and tentacula 

 withdrawn, each little pet elevates its body and grace- 

 fully spreads out its many rays, apparently for no 

 other purpose than to please its master's eye. 



A. mesembryanthemum (in colloquial parlance 

 abbreviated to ' mess. '), is very common at the sea- 

 shore. It is easily recognised by the row of blue 

 torquoise-like beads, about the size of a large 

 pin's head, that are situated around the base of the 

 tentacula. This test is an unerring one, and can 

 easily be put in practice by the assistance of a small 

 piece of stick, with which to brush aside the over- 

 hanging rays. 



A. crassicornis grows to a very large size. Some 

 specimens would, when expanded, cover the crown of 

 a man's hat, while others are no larger than a 

 ' bachelor's button/ Unless rarely marked, I do not 

 now introduce the ' crass/ into my tanks, from a 

 dislike, which I cannot conquer, to the strange pecu- 

 liarity which members of this species possess, of 

 turning themselves inside out, and going through a 

 long series of inelegant contortions. Still, to the 

 young zoologist, this habit will doubtless be interest- 

 ing to witness. One author has named these large 

 anemones 'quilled dahlias;' and the expression is so 



