98 



ANATOMY OF ACTINIA. 



tremely beautiful features which are peculiar to 

 itself. When the creature is fully expanded, a 

 row of little globules will be seen round the 

 edge, among the tentacles. They are usually 

 about the size of a No. 5 shot, and are blue and 

 bright as turquoise, to which jewel they bear 

 some resemblance. Indeed, if there is any dis- 

 tinction between the two, the animal turquoise 

 is more beautiful than the mineral. 



If a dissection is contemplated (and it will well 

 repay the trouble), the creature can be killed 

 by placing it in fresh water. Its anatomical 

 structure is very remarkable, and even the 

 muscular structure, that enables the creature tc 

 expand or contract at pleasure, is worthy of 

 observation on its own account, independently 

 of the fact that the presence of muscle is a 

 proof that there must be nerves by which the 

 muscles are excited. Although the details are 

 complicated enough, yet the general notion of the 

 creature is sufficiently simple, and may be readily 

 imitated. Let a linen bag be made, and the 

 mouth of it sewn up. Then let the closed 

 mouth be pushed inwards, until the bag assumes 

 the form of a cup with double walls, and it is 

 the type of an actinia; the outer wall being 

 the exterior of the animal, and the inner it8 



