218 



seem to enjoy a slightly raised temperature when warmed from 8°to 20° C. 

 in a dish; as the temperature was raised beyond 22" C. the animals 

 retracted. 



We have spoken of Tealia erassico?iiis and before leaving the sub- 

 ject it seems not superfluous to recall a few of the many points of bio- 

 logical interest connected with this species, though some of them may 

 be well known. It may be supposed that the red pigment of the column of 

 Tealia is a warning colour, but this form has evolved one stage further, 

 the glands of the column secrete adhesive substance which attaches small 

 fragments of stone and shell. In this way, an individual living in the 

 shingle under shore boulders becomes quite inconspicuous to prey which 

 may then stumble on it unawares. We have therefore, probably, warning 

 colouration which has given place to aggressive resemblance, resemblance 

 not so much for protection from enemies as for deceiving prey. When the 

 tide is out, Tealia may also expand to an unusual extent; not only are 

 the tentacles bent out, but the digestive tissue is protruded from the 

 mouth ready to catch small crabs and other crustaceans, or worms that 

 may be moving about, most animals of this kind being very awkward 

 and blundering in the absence of water. The contrast between the long 

 filament-like tentacles of several shore Anemones and the short, stout 

 ones of Tealia crassicornis points to the fact that Tealia is by no means 

 so helpless as Actinia or Anthea when not covered by the tide. 



YI. When moving, anemones inflate the side of the base in the 

 direction of motion, as Grosse described, they then raise it and flatten 

 it out with simultaneous expulsion of the water taken up during inflation, 

 the part of the base which thus becomes posterior is next conti acted and 

 drawn up, and then the process begins over again. Actinia and Anthea 

 move a good deal in this way and so does Aiptasia Couchii. Sagartia 

 nivea moves in similar fashion and flattens to a remarkable extent in the 

 process of refixing the base at each stage; it may take 24 hours to com- 

 plete one of the cycles of movement just described. Actinoloba dianthus 

 may move as much as 7 inches in one day and both Actinia and Anthea 

 have done greater distances in that time in our tanks. This last species 

 and some others, notably Tealia crassicornis^ can shift their locality by 

 loosening their basal adhesion, inflating the body and rolling in some 

 way not adequately understood ; during the autumn months they may 

 be found floating or rather 'washing' about. 



Some of the more active species, such as Anthea cereus may pro- 

 gress on the tips of their tentacles, or may move up to the surface of 

 the water, loosen themselves from their attachment, hollow out the base 

 and float with tentacles downwards. There is a good deal still unknown 

 about the movements of whole colonies or groups of anemones. In the 



