SEA-ANEMONES. 703 



specimens these " acontia " may, when extended straight through the mouth, 

 measure as much as six inches. 



In the Plumose Anemone, which is flesh-coloured, pale orange, or clear 

 white, the pillar-like body is surmounted by a widely-expanded, frilled disc 

 edged with numberless fringe-like tentacles. When these Anemones move 

 along on the disc small pieces are sometimes torn off and left behind. These 

 pieces can develop into young Anemones ; at other times young forms bud 

 out from the parent. 



In the Daisy Anemone the upper part of the body wall is studded with 

 suckers, to which fragments of shell or gravel may become attached. In 

 colour this Anemone varies greatly, almost all shades, 

 from a delicate flesh colour to a deep chocolate or olive The Daisy 

 green, being seen in various specimens. The small Anemone 



tentacles are arranged in many rows, and may amount to (SagartiabelUs). 

 500. The Daisy Anemone is exceedingly prolific. Its 

 young, which arise from fertilised eggs, are usually matured within the body 

 cavity and thrown out at the mouth as minute but perfect Anemones. From 

 160 to 300 of such young are said to have been produced by a Daisy 

 Anemone in a single day. 



The Cloak Anemone is noted for being constantly found in company with 

 the Hermit. Crab, on the lip of whose borrowed shell it attaches itself. Two 

 wing-like lobes grow out from the base of the Anemone, 

 gradually surround the lip of the shell, meeting finally on The Cloak 



the other side and forming the so-called "cloak." The Anemone 



Anemone no doubt profits by its chosen position, as it can (Adanma pa/hala). 

 feed on particles of the prey caught and torn up by the 

 claws of the crab, and is borne along by him in his wanderings, sometimes 

 thus travelling a mile or two out to sea, and enjoying constant change of 

 water. If the shell chosen by this strange couple is too small for the 

 Anemone, or gets broken, it can fabricate a shelly substance which makes 

 good all defects. 



The Opelet, so called because its disc is habitually expanded, has long, 

 emerald-green tentacles, which can coil round its prey. 

 Large sea -weeds are often found studded with these The Opelet 



beautiful flower-like creatures, which, in some parts of {Aidheit eemis). 

 France, are appreciated as an article of food. 



The Beadlet is distinguished by brilliantly coloured beadlike vesicles set 

 near the edge of the disc. These may be stinging batteries, for these 

 Anemones are not provided, like the Sagartiadse, with 

 internal stinging threads. The Beadlet, which is also The Beadlet 



called the Strawberry Anemone, is the commonest of the (Aethna tnesembrij- 

 red Anemones found on English rocks. It is very hardy, anthemum). 



and has been known to live as long as thirty years m 

 captivity, during that time giving rise to three hundred and thirty-four 

 young Anemones. . ,, 



The Dahlia Wartlet has the surface of its body covered with small 

 grey warts to which fragments of stone or shell adhere. The Dahlia 



This Anemone is scarcely less abundant on our shores Wartlet 



than the Beadlet, and is very handsome, one variety {Tealia 



having white tentacles, vividly contrasting with the crassicornis). 



crimson disc. It is particularly voracious, devouring 

 shore crabs, limpets, and other molluscs, and even sea-urchins and hah. 



