SMOOTH ANEMONE. 



95 



that meets an observer's eye. As he wanders 

 about among the rocks and stones that are left 

 dry by the receding tide, he will see on many of 

 them certain little lumps of green or red jelly, 

 varying in size from a pea to a plum. On touching 

 them, they do not feel soft, like jelly, but are 

 very smooth, slippery, and much firmer in con- 

 sistence than would be imagined from their aspect. 

 In this state, some of them are entirely green or 

 red, but the greater part are marked longi- 

 tudinally with lines of difierent colours according 

 to the variety. For there is but one species of 

 "Mes," although the variety of colour pass 

 through several tints of green and red. 



If they are to be examined, they can be 

 detached without injury, by slipping the thumb- 

 nail or an ivory paper-knife under the base, and 

 so gradually peeling them away from the support. 

 Great care must be taken of the sucking-base 

 by which the animal affixes itself, for a wounded 

 base often causes death ; and if the anemone has 

 any nerves at all, as is but natural to suppose, 

 their situation is on the base. Still, the process 

 of peeling occupies some time, and if the tide is 

 coming in, every minute is of importance. In 

 this case, they can be removed instantaneously^ 

 by a judiciously aimed blow with the sharp end 



