HALF AN HOUR WITH SEA- ANEMONES. 131 



body, is a dark line which runs down each side of 

 every tentacle. 



The anemone just referred to, the Adamsia, is 

 very remarkable on account of its always being 

 found in company with a species of Hermit-crab. 

 It lives in deep water, and Mr. Gosse remarks that 

 he believed there was no instance on record of its 

 living without the crab, or the crab without it. 

 One which he had in his aquarium thus in partner- 

 ship, was taken off the shell in which the Hermit 

 crab lived, but before long they were found together 

 again. At length he observed the crab (after 

 another divorce) take the anemone up with its 

 claws, and gently apply it to the mouth of the shell 

 in which it lived, the anemone being evidently 

 favourable to the operation, for there it afterwards 

 remained. We have heard of strange attachments 

 between horses and dogs, but it is indeed singular 

 to find such a union between a soft-bodied crab and 

 a sea-anemone ! The reason for this strange union 

 is quite a puzzle to naturalists, but there can be 

 little doubt it is mutually advantageous in some 

 way or another. 



The " Opelet " (Anthea cereus, Fig. 67) is so called 

 on account of its inability to withdraw its snake-like 

 tentacles. It is not an uncommon species on rock- 

 bound coasts, and may be found in many rock-pools 

 between tides. It adheres by a broad base to the 

 rocks, or to the larger tangles. The poisoning 

 powers are very highly developed in this species, so 



