428 



Marvels of the Universe 



These infant Anemones are exceeding!}' graceful and active creatures, constantly changing their 

 forms and positions, roaming about on the rock until they have found a spot to their taste upon 

 which to settle. They are alternatelj" spherical and worm-like, with all sorts of intermediate shapes. 

 The worm-like shape is assumed for purposes of locomotion, the base retaining its hold until the 

 tentacles have laid hold at a distance ; then the base disengages itself, the column is drawn up to 

 the tentacles, and may again lengthen and take hold in an opposite direction. 



The Opelet, which is one of our largest species, is a very inconstant Anemone — always shifting 

 its quarters, and found as much, perhaps, on the broad fronds of the oar-weed as on the rocks. At 

 least, this is the case when it has attained to full size, and it may frequently be found floating ten- 

 tacles downward, and its broad base hohowed out like a boat. This is a very graceful species, with 



FORAMINIFERA 



Another group of varied forms of these wonderful examples of 

 five times larger than the actual size — that is to say. the real s 

 broadest part. 



iA. E. Smith. 



minute life. The scale of magnification is about twenty- 

 ze of the entire group is one-fifth of an inch across its 



