SEA ANEMONES IN CAPTIVITY. 



W. H. ST. QUINTIN, J. P., F.Z.S., 

 Scampston, E. Yorks. 



I SHOULD like to place on record that I have, still in good health 

 and colour, a specimen of Sagartia troglodytes (Gosse), and 

 another of S. viduata, which are the survivors of rather an 

 ■extensive collection of ' Sea Anemones,' which I made in 1894 

 and 1895 on the coast of Devon. 



The 5. troglodytes appears to be of the typical form : the 

 viduata to be the variety named by Gosse ' melanops.' 



That these animals are long-lived in captivity is already 

 known ; for Gosse,* speaks of a specimen of A. mesenibryan- 

 themum, the common red ' Beadlet ' of our shores, which wa^ 

 known to be between thirty and forty years old when he heard 

 of it as still living in i860, and which, during its captivity, 

 had produced 334 young ! 



My anemones used to have a fresh supply of sea-water once 

 or twice a j^ear. But for the last eight years, I have only filled 

 up their vases with fresh water to replace that which has 

 evaporated. 



That this is sufficient to maintain life is shewn by the 

 quantity of conferva which spreads through the vases if too 

 much light is admitted ; and by the entomostraca (water-fleas) 

 which are generally to be attracted to the flame of a candle held 

 near the surface of the water. Probably these last, and 

 possibly the spores of the conferva, assist in furnishing food to 

 the anemones, in addition to the small earthworms, with which 

 I supply them. 



That tried and trusty friend, Hazell's Annual, (London, 60S pp. 3/6 

 net), is more acceptable than ever. In addition to the customary mass of 

 information upon the men and movements of the day the 1910 edition 

 contains a number of signed articles by writers of indisputable authority 

 upon the subjects with which they deal. Sir Arundel Arundel, K.C.S.I., 

 Sir Oliver Lodge, Lady Frances Balfour, Sir Hiram Maxim, Sir Harry 

 Johnston, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., are among the contributors whose names will 

 command attention. For the rest, whether the reader is interested in 

 Foreign Affairs, in Home Politics, in Finance, in Religious Movements, 

 in Social Questions, in Sport, Science, Art, Music or the Drama, he will 

 find in ' Hazell ' a fund of facts and figures presented in a form that is 

 equally attractive and convenient. 



* ' British Sea Anemones and Corals.' 



Naturalist, 



