164 THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



puckered disc. Large specimens of this anemone occur in deep 

 water, but on the shore rocks one may find small specimens of an 

 inch or so in height, growing in company with dead men's fingers. 

 On the west coast, but not on the east, a very beautiful and 

 common anemone is Anthea cereus, which has many advantages 

 in the aquarium. It is hardy, never completely retracts its 

 tentacles like other anemones, is much more active than most, 

 and can be readily detached without injury. In the south its 

 long, snaky tentacles are of the most beautiful green colour, tipped 

 with crimson, but in the north they are brownish, the whole 

 colouring being much more sober. On the east coast the animal, 

 unfortunately, does not occur at all. Where it does occur it 

 should certainly be kept in confinement to show its striking 

 beauty, for the ever-exposed tentacles make it greatly prefer- 

 able to the other forms, which may often sulk for days, and 

 will then show nothing but a fleshy knob, the tentacles being 

 completely retracted. It requires no special care, but a good 

 plan with an animal so common and so tolerant of change is to 

 keep specimens for a few days only at a time, and then, as they 

 begin to show signs of suffering from confinement, take them back 

 to their pool, and replace them by others, knowing that they 

 will rapidly recover perfect beauty in their native habitat. 



Of the other forms allied to the sea-anemones, mention may 

 be made of dead men's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum\ so repul- 

 sive-looking after death, and so beautiful in 

 life with its delicate translucent polyps. 

 It occurs occasionally in the rock pools, 

 but as it is always attached and will not 

 thrive if removed from its substratum, 

 success in the aquarium will depend upon 

 the chance of obtaining a specimen fixed to 



FIG. 82. A sea-fir (Obelia\ x i i~ i_ i_ 



on weed. 



moved. Even then it is not easy to keep 



alive. It consists of a fleshy mass, usually yellowish or flesh- 

 coloured, which contains cavities in which are lodged numerous 

 glassy polyps which can be withdrawn completely into the fleshy 

 substance, but which when undisturbed protrude their bodies, 

 ending in eight feathery tentacles, in the water in search of food. 



