100 



MIGRATORY HABITS. 



have also been known to live in soapsuds for a 

 considerable time. 



If specimens are gathered for an aquarium, 

 they should be chosen of a moderate size, for 

 the larger actiniae require a considerable bulk of 

 water. They are in general very migratory in 

 their character, marching at their own sweet 

 wills over the sides of the vessel in which they 

 are confined, and now and then paying a visit 

 to the rocks, stones, and shells in its centre. 

 Sometimes they will attach themselves to a frond 

 of ulva, whose broad leaf affords a good hold for 

 their base; and there they will stay for weeks. 

 Sometimes they will not take the trouble of 

 crawling down the sides, and then over the 

 bottom, but turn themselves into boats by 

 hollowing the base, and thus floating with the 

 base upwards, until they think fit to contract 

 themselves, and to sink. They generally remain 

 for some time partially supported by one edge 

 of the base against the side of the vase, but after 

 a while they commit themselves freely to the 

 water. Fresh-water snails may be seen floating 

 in a similar manner. 



The base of the actinia, by which it moves, 

 and of which it is so careful, is a very pretty 

 object when seen pressed against the glass side of 



