138 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



les Millepieds (Naids). Comme ils sont fort petits, et sur- 

 tout que leurs corps ii'est pas allonge, ils risquent moins 

 que les vers de s'eiigager dans les bras des Polypes en se 

 debattant."* And he nowhere mentions that the escaped 

 animals died, or gave any signs of having been paralysed by 

 contact with the tentacles. 



To sum up this discussion, we may say that ample testi- 

 mony is afforded in proof of the position that Anemones 

 have a certain stinrfing power, the nature of which is not 

 yet ascertained, but which is probably a minor degree of 

 that possessed by some Jelly-fish. 



Direct experiment and observation prove that neither 

 the Anemones, nor the fresh-water Polypes, possess in any 

 degree the poiuer of paralysing other animals. 



" But do tell us something about the habits and instincts 

 of these Anemones," some light-minded reader suggests, im- 

 patient of all discussion, and supremely indifferent to all 

 considerations save those of a moral order. Unhappily my 

 story is not ampler in detail, nor finer in complexity of 

 movement, than the story of Canning's "Knife-grinder" — 

 who had none to tell. The Anemone is lovely, but even its 

 warmest admirers must confess it is a little monotonous in 

 its manifestations. Existence suffices it. It expands its 

 coronal of tentacles, eats when chance favours it, produces 

 offspring, which it sends forth, leaving them, borne by the 

 many currents of the sea, to settle where they list, without 

 any fear of parental supervision, and thus lives to a good 



* Trembley : M^moires pour wrir i\ F/iist. ilc3 Polypes cCeau douce. 1744, 

 p. 92. 



