60 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



the disk. In fact, these tentacles, or feelers, connect with 

 the interior of the stem of the anemone, just as the lingers 

 of a glove do with the interior of the same. 



5. Let me invite you to a, sight I have many times be- 

 held. I have in captivity a hungry sea- flower. Knowing 

 well what suits its palate, I take a delicate morsel like a 

 pilule, and let it fall into the water. It descends upon the 

 waving petals, or tentacula, on the point of one of which 

 the pretty creature has caught it in an instant. How deli- 

 cate the adjustment upon its more than fairy fingers ! For 

 a few moments it is balanced with the nicest poise on that 

 dactylic petal. Ah ! a voracious and unmannerly little 

 bummer of a minnow sees the delicious morsel, and makes 

 a rapid dash to snatch it from my pet. " Good ! good ! 

 Well done, my bonnie ! " I did not see the slightest motion 

 of that indignant flower-creature ; yet assuredly there was 

 a movement, and an effective one, too : for the zoophyte 

 had shot one of its invisible shafts, and the ichthyic thief 

 dashes off like one frantic with pain. 



6. Is he hurt ? Likely. His is an urticated experience. 

 He is stung in the snout ! See how he seems to shake his 

 nose ! He fairly seems to sneeze again, and actually con- 

 ducts himself much like a puppy that, uninvited, has put 

 his nose into a bowl of hot soup. Ah, ha ! He is rubbing 

 his fishy proboscis against a frond of sea-lettuce. Perhaps 

 the salad may cool his burning pain. Mr. Fish soon recov- 

 ers his equanimity of mind ; and it is observable that his 

 deference to Mrs. Actinia since that affair has been of a 

 decidedly distant character. 



1. Generally the sea-anemone will nor spread her beau- 

 tiful form in a bright light. Often, when all seemed sulky 

 and there was a general collapse, we have restored the whole 

 coterie to good-humor, simply by covering up the aquaria 

 for an hour or two, and then uncovering, when the flowers 

 will fully open. It was a great transformation to see, when 



