426 



Marvels of the Universe 



these pools, and must be sought on the rocks that are never uncovered b}- the 

 tide ; but there are quite enough of different varieties found between tide- 

 marks to afford a correct idea of their beautj-, their structure and their 

 habits. But before glancing at a few of these forms, let us consider what 

 the Sea Anemone is in general. 



Roughh' speaking, it is a hollow cylinder of soft flesh, closed at both ends, 

 with a spreading base which adheres closely to the rock, much as a slug's body 

 adheres to its support. \Mthin the C3dinder a number of plates of varying 

 breadth jut out from the walls into the cavity, dividing it into a number of 

 open compartments. When the Anemone is fully expanded, the top of the 

 cylinder is seen to have a slit-like opening, which is the mouth of the 

 animal, and around it, spreading out much like the petals of some flower. 



These tentacles serve the 

 They close upon any small living creature that comes in their way, and by 

 the emission of barbed microscopic threads from their surface kill and secure their prey at one 

 operation. Pushing it towards the mouth, the lips part and the victim is received into the gullet, 

 which is a bottomless sack opening into the general cavity. As the food is digested, it falls into this 

 cavit}', and is absorbed by its walls, the undigested portion being ejected through the mouth. 



The common kind of Anemone to which we have already referred as the best-known species is 

 named the Beadlet, from the fact that just below the outer row of tentacles is a series of bead-like 

 spheres of a brilliant blue. A narrow line of blue also runs round the base of the column. Commonly, 



A SEA ANEMONE. 



An ideal section to sho\v 

 the general plan of the 

 interior parts. 



are the tentacles in a single row or several rows one within another 

 Anemone as hands. 



[/i« 'Tlieo. Car 



THE ARROW iMUZZLET AND THE CUP-CORAL. 



The only British Coral is shown in the upper half of this picture, and to the right of it are seen two specimens of the 

 Jimy corallum left on the death of the animal. Below is the Arrow Muzzle t, which buries its column in the sand. 

 (Natural size.> 



