SQUIRTS, POLYPS, AND JELLY-FISHES. 71 



surface of the ocean, while still others bury them- 

 selves to considerable depths in the sand and mud. 

 The beautiful Cerianthus, whose purple-tent^cled 

 crowns recall the asters of our meadows, is an abun- 

 dant form of the southern sand-shallows, which in 

 the north is replaced by the singular worm-like 

 and mud-inhabiting Halcampa. Like all other sea- 

 anemones, the Halcampa is an exceedingly vora^ 

 cious animal, and, if unguardedly placed in a vial 

 of sea-water containing marine worms and like 

 treasures of the shore, will without compuncnon 

 almost immediately begin a meal. And it is won- 

 derful to what an extent their meal may be drawn 

 out. 



Another sand-inhabiting form, frequently found 

 attached to the under surfaces of stones, is Sagar- 

 tia leucolena, also known as the ' white- 

 armed anemone.' It is a much less 

 slender species than the preceding, 

 and differs in addition in the greater 

 number and length of its tentacles. 



These animals multiply from eggs, 

 by budding, and by fission — i.e., by 

 constriction and subsequent separa- 

 tion of the body into two or more 

 parts. The latter process is repeated 

 among many corals, although in the 

 greater number of cases their com- 

 pound colonies are built up through 

 continuous budding. If you can con- 

 ceive of a budded or compound colony of sea- 

 anemones with the individual animals reduced in 



Halcampa. 



