190 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
When the former is strong and robust, the aggression is repelled, and 
the shrimp runs the risk of supplementing the repast of the anemone. 
If the actinias are voracious, they can also support a prolonged period 
of fasting. They have been known to live two and even three years 
without having received any nourishment* 
Although the sea anemone is said to be delicate eating, man derive 3 
very little benefit from them in that respect. In Provence, Italy, and 
Greece, the Green Actinia is in great repute, and Diccpiemare speaks oi 
A. erassworim as delicate food. “ Of all the kinds of sea anemones, 1 
would prefer this for the table ; being boiled some time in sea water, 
they acquire a firm and palatable consistence, and may then he eaten 
with any kind of sauce. They are of an inviting appearance, of a 
light shivering texture, and of a soft white and reddish hue. Their 
smell is not unlike that of a warm crab or lobster.” Dr. Johnston 
admits the tempting description, and does not doubt their being not 
less a luxury than the sea urchins of the Greeks, or the snails of the 
Boman epicures, but he was not induced to test its truth. Bondeletiu? 
tells us, having, as Dr. Johnston thinks, A. erassicornia in view, that it 
brings a good price at Bordeaux. Actinia diantlms also is good to 
eat, quoth Dicquemare, and Planeus directs the cook to dress it after 
the manner of dressing oysters, with which it is frequently eaten- 
Actinia coriacea is found in the market at Bochefort during the 
months of January, February, and March. Its flesh is said to be 
both delicate and savoury. 
With these general considerations, we proceed to note some of the 
more remarkable genera and species of these interesting creatures- 
Among those, the species represented in Pl. IY. are those usually 
seen collected in such aquariums as those of the Zoological Gardens of 
London and the Gardens of Acclimatization of Paris. 
The first section of the Actiniadie, according to Milne Edwards, in' 
eludes the Common Actinia, the feet of which are broad and adherent, 
the lateral walls soft and imperforate. To this section belongs, among 
others, the genera Ammonia, Actinia, and Metridium. 
The Green Actinia (A. viridis) has very numerous tentacula, som e ' 
times as many as two hundred, exceeding in length the breadth of tb e 
body, of a fine brownish or olive green, and rose-coloured at the extremity- 
* “On en a vu vivre deux et mfane trois ans, sans recevoir de nourriture.” 
Vie dee Animaux, p. 117. 
