12G SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



upon the disc that supports them, or detaching themselves 

 entirely, and swelling themselves with water, they become 

 nearly of the same specific gravity as the element they 

 inhabit, and the least agitation is sufficient to drive them 

 elsewhere. Reaumur even asserts, that they can turn them- 

 selves so as to use their tentacles as feet, crawling upon the 

 bottom of the sea ; but this mode of progression has not 

 been observed by subsequent naturalists." Yes, Dr John- 

 ston once saw it ; I also witnessed an Anthea movins; thus ; 

 but I suspect it is only the Anthea wliich has the power, 

 and tftis it probably owes to its more solid tentacles.* 



Again the question recurs, How then do we know the 

 Anemone to be an animal ? — in other words, what charac- 

 teristic marks guide zoologists in classing it in that division ? 

 I really know of none but purely anatomical marks.f These 

 however, suffice, and if you please we will continue to speak 

 of the Anemone as an animal, and, what is more, a very car- 

 nivorous animal, eating most things that come within reach. 



* Rapp, loc. cit. p. 44, saj's he has often witnessed it ; but he only mentions 

 the Anthea as possessing tlio power. Aristotle, as wo have seen, makes 

 special mention of it. 



t It is unnecessary to particularise these anatomical marks, which will occur 

 to the mind of every student, as belonging exclusively to that division of 

 animated beings wliich manifest the group of phenomena baptised by the name 

 of Animality. Wherever you find muscvdar tissue, or an alimentary canal, j'ou 

 are absolutely certain that nothing belonging to what finds its place in the 

 group of marks which indicate the vegetable kingdom, is before you. In func- 

 tion there is often considerable resemblance between Plant and Animal ; but 

 in stmcture the dilTcrenccs early manifest themselves, gi-owing greater as the 

 scale ascends. Although, therefore, at the bottom of the scale no distinguished 

 characteristic isolates animals from plants, as we ascend the scale wo find 

 many definite marks by which the two groups may be known. 



