54 2 T HE ACTINIiE, OR SEA ANEMONES. 



containing these animalcules be kept warm, they 

 will retain their light two whole days after they are 

 dead ; but in cold weather they lose it in the course 

 of seven or eight hours. Motion and warmth, which 

 increase their vivacity and strength, increase also 

 their light. 



THE ACTINLE, OR SEA ANEMONES. 



These animals are somewhat oblong, and when 

 closed resemble a truncated cone. They are fixed 

 by the base, and from their top occasionally extend 

 several tentacula, which are disposed in regular cir- 

 cles. The mouth, which is the only opening in the 

 body, is situated at the top, in the centre of the 

 tentacula, and is furnished with crooked teeth. 



They are all capable of varying their figure : but, 

 when their tentacula are fully expanded, they have 

 the appearance of full-blown flowers. Many of 

 them are of very beautiful and brilliant colours. 

 They feed on shell-fish and other marine animals, 

 which they draw into their mouth with their arms^ 

 and they eject the shells and other indigestible parts 

 through the same opening. It sometimes happens, 

 however, that a shell presents itself in a wrong posi- 

 tion, and the animal is not able to discharge it in 

 the usual manner : in this case we are told that it is 

 forced through the body, making a wound, as if with 

 a knife, near the base. The arms seem to lay hold 

 of objects by making a vacuum s for, on touching 



