THE LAND OP THE DANCING CRANE. 23 



coiled a delicate, hair-like javelin that is darted 

 out on the slightest provocation. Now, if a 

 small crab or shrimp bumps against these tenta- 

 cles, myriads of these darts shoot out, striking 

 and paralyzing the intruder, while the tentacles 

 draw it down into the stomach of the ane- 



mone." 



" Have they no eyes ? " asked Tom. 



" Yes, they are here at the base of the tenta- 

 cles, but are too small to be seen in this little 

 specimen. The anemones are produced in sev- 

 eral ways, as from eggs, and by what is called 

 budding. The latter process is extremely sim- 

 ple, the animal apparently tearing off bits of its 

 disk as it moves along, each of which in a few 

 days throws out tentacles and becomes a new 



anemone." 



The mast of the Tortugas could now be 

 seen beyond the beach. Paublo, who had been 

 searching for turtles' eggs, hailed the dinghy, 

 and soon after they were alongside. An awning 

 was rigged over the stern, tempering the heat 

 so that it was not too great for comfort. 



While lying around on deck, the attention of 



