AQUARIUM. 



the crab, if it is ■unfortunate enoiis;li even to thrust one of 

 its legs within reach of the tentacles. 



It is generally believed that the various members of the 

 actinia family possess the power of bennmbing their prey. In 

 some species little elliptical capsules are scattered over the 

 whole surface of the body, in others confined to the tentaoula, 

 or even to their tips. These are furnished with minute spears, 

 by which it is probable that not only are wounds inflicted, but 

 poison is also conveyed into them. The sensations produced 

 by the touch of the tentacula appear to be very different in 

 the case of different persons, — ^from a mere rasping feeling to a 

 slight tingling, or even to a stinging as by a nettle. Some of 

 the anemone's poison-darts are only two or three times the 

 length of the capsule which contains them, but others are 

 much longer, and when within the capsule are coiled up aft^r 

 the manner of a watch-spring. 



The sea-anemones possess the curious power of reproducing, 

 orgams of their own body. Dr. Johnston relates a curious 

 instance of this : — " I had once brought me a specimen that 

 originally might have been two inches in diameter, and that 

 had somehow contrived to swallow a valve of Pecten maxirwuB 

 (a shell-fish of the oyster family), of the size of an ordinary 

 saucer. The shell fixed within the stomach was so placed as 

 to divide it completely into two halves, so that the body 

 stretched tenselj over it had become thin and flattened like a 

 pancake. All communication between the inferior portion of 

 the stomach and the mouth was of course prevented; yet 

 instead of emaciating and dying of an atrophy, the animal 

 had availed itself of what had undoubtedly been a very unto- 

 ward accident, to increase its enjoyments and its chances of 

 double fare. A new mouth, furnished with two rows of 

 numerous tentacles, was opened up on what had been the 

 base, and led to the under-stomaoh. The individual had indeed 

 become a sort of Siamese twin, but with greater intimacy and 

 extent in its unions." 



The hardiest of this singular family and that most easily 

 " domesticated," is the Mesemhryanfhemmn. It may be de- 

 tached from the rock where it is found by sliding beneath it 

 an ivory paper knife, or even by levering it up with the thumb 

 nail. The next most desirable anemone is one of the largest 

 of those found on the British coast, and whose name is Bwnodes 

 crassicomis. This creature exhibits a great diversity of the 

 moyt beautiful colour; white, cream colour, brilliant red, green. 



