OCEAN GAEDENS ; 



vortex, like Infmorice drawn within the fatal ten- 

 tacles of the Actinia. 



Pirst, of the Actinice^ or Sea-Anemonies. These 

 flower-formed animals were once thought to form a 

 curious and astonishing link between the animal and 

 vegetable world; and many curious speculations, 

 based upon that idea, were put forth, among which 

 the links between man and the inferior animals, 

 and between quadrupeds and fishes, were asserted 

 in further illustration of the theory. But the decep- 

 tiveness of superficial knowledge, based upon imper- 

 fect observations, was never more strikingly exem- 

 plified than in the present instance. It was thought 

 that, because these creatures were found attached 

 to rocks, they necessarily drew their nourishment 

 principally through the medium of roots, as all true 

 plants do ; more accurate observation, however, has 

 shown that they are not 'permanently fixed to the 

 rocks, and that they have the power of moving from 

 one place to another, and attaching themselves anew, 

 whenever a sufficiently disturbing cause renders 

 such removal desirable. Again, oysters and mus- 

 sels remain fixed to rocks without being considered 

 allied tor plants on that account ; and even some fish 

 have the power of attaching themselves to such and 

 other substances by means of curiously-formed 



52 



