66 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
the tide which has left them dry, and each one contracted 
into a hemispherical button of tremulous flesh, varying 
exceedingly in colour, — brown, chocolate, dark red, purple, 
crimson, pink, flesh-colour, green, olive, and not unfre- 
quently, especially in the overgrown specimens, specked all 
over with light green on a dark red ground 1 Yes ; our 
readors are doubtless familiar with these attractive crea- 
tures, and are prepared to hear with interest some of the 
details of their curious structure and economy. 
In order to understand the subject more perfectly, it 
would bo desirable to study the Sea-Anemones at home 
and at leisure. Nothing is more easily accomplished. 
Carry down to the rocky margin of the sea, at low tide, a 
wide-mouthed phial, and select your specimen. It adheres 
firmly to the stone by a broad fleshy base, but the attach- 
ment is one of adhesion merely ; there is no organic con- 
nexion between the animal and its support. You will 
find no difficulty in detaching it, if you proceed gently and 
with care, working the back of your finger-nail, or (if "you 
like it bettor) a thin slip of wood, under the circumference 
of the fleshy base, and gradually proceeding onward. 
When you have succeeded in getting it off, drop it into 
your phial, which you may partly fill with sea-water, and 
carry homo. . 
A nice little aquarium may now be improvised for its 
accommodation. A washing-basin, or a soup-tureen, will 
answer admirably ; or a delft foot-bath, or a milk-dish, or 
a brown earthen pan. Whatever vessel you choose, put a 
few pieces of rock on the bottom, half-fill it with clear 
sea-water, and place in it a few (only a few) living sea- 
weeds. If you mean to establish an aquarium of consider- 
