THE COMMON SEA ANEMONE. 543 



them with the fingers, they readily adhere, but no 

 viscous matter is deposited by them. Their mouth 

 is capable of great extension, so as to allow them 

 to swallow very large shells without injury. The 

 whole interior part of their body is one cavity or sto- 

 mach. They have the power of progressive motion ; 

 but this is extremely slow, and is said to be per- 

 formed by loosing their base from the rock, revers- 

 ing their body, and employing their tentacula as so 

 many legs. 



Nearly all the animals of this tribe may be se- 

 parated from their native rocks by means of a card 

 carefully introduced beneath, so as not materially to 

 injure them ; and, being put into glass vessels with 

 sea-water, which must be changed about once a 

 week, they will there fix themselves, and may be 

 kept alive and in full vigour for a great length of 

 time, in places far distant from the sea-coasts. 



All the species are viviparous. 



THE COMMON SEA ANEMONE*. 



The present species is extremely common on se- 

 veral of the European coasts, and on the sea rocks of 

 this island in particular. It adheres by its base 

 firmly to the rocks, so as frequently to be left above 

 water at the ebbing of the sea : but it is generally 

 found adhering at some little depth below the sur- 

 face of the water. Its usual colour is a deep red, 

 more or less vivid in different specimens; and it is 



* Actinia anemonoides. Linn. 



