THE SEA-ANEMONES AND THEIR ALLIES 163 



Much handsomer than the smooth anemone is the thick-horned 

 form (Tealia crassicornis), which unfortunately in the experience 

 of most people is much more difficult to keep alive. Part of the 

 difficulty lies in the fact that this anemone attaches itself very 

 firmly, not to one stone or rock, but usually to several, so that 

 it is exceedingly difficult to detach it without injury. It is a 

 larger form than the smooth anemone, having often a diameter 

 of several inches across the disc. The tentacles are short, thick 

 and banded, and the animal has the habit of covering its body 

 with particles of stone and shell, which in the contracted condition 

 make it very inconspicuous. It lives farther out on the rocks 

 than the common smooth form. 



We have also numerous species of Sagartia, of which 5. 

 troglodytes, the cave-dwelling anemone, is a common and widely 

 distributed form. It lives 

 either among the sand of 

 mussel beds, or in rock 

 crevices, and as it does 

 not fix itself very firmly 

 it is easily detached and 

 lives well in confinement. 

 The colour is very vari- 

 able, but there is always 

 an elaborate system of 

 banding, and one of the 

 most interesting points 

 in regard to this ane- 

 mone is the close resem- 

 blance its colour shows to 

 its natural surroundings. 

 Sand-coloured in sandy 

 pools, green in weed- 

 containing pools, and so 

 on, it occurs in numerous 



, . ,. FIG. 81. The plumose anemone (Actinoloba atanthus). 



colour variations. 



Another beautiful form is the Plumose anemone (Adinoloba 

 dianthus), which occurs in white, yellow and flesh-coloured 

 varieties, and has small tentacles and a curiously frilled or 



