264 ZOOPHYTES. 



clear cylindrical tube or column. This zoophyte 

 may be found on almost any part of our coasts, 

 adhering to stones or shells brought up from deep 

 water, and in some places is so common, that if 

 a dredge of oysters were to be brought up from 

 the deep, not a shell or a stone but would exhibit 

 one or more of the conspicuous tufts of this in- 

 teresting zoophyte. 



Perhaps the zoophytes best known as such to 

 visitors at the coast, are the beautiful Sea Ane- 

 mones, which offer their loveliness to every eye, 

 and need no microscope to reveal their tints or 

 forms. Clustered by thousands on sea-side rocks 

 or sands, adorning the sides of rocky pools, with 

 flowers which resemble marigolds or China-asters 



in their form, but which are brighter in their colours 

 than any flowers which our garden can show ; 

 redder than roses, of richer purple than the violet, 

 and wearing the rainbow hues of the gorgeous 

 cactus flower, which the painter in vain essays to 



