65 
The studded Sea flower in its most perfect state has its 
®°®lh surrounded with several rows of unequal tentacula, 
Hick are marked with bars of carnation, lake, brown, and 
Hite, in such a manner that each forms a succession of 
Clr cles round the mouth, and present a scene of such re- 
markable brilliancy and beauty, as few flowers can equal. 
. be Sea daisy is not so brilliant as the one just mentioned. 
* has however its patches of brown, yellow and flesh colour 
S(J beautifully and harmoniously blended, its festooned cir- 
j^mterence so surrounded by a circle ot short variegated 
'ptacula, forming a fringe of such “inimitable beauty as 
a 'rly to entitle it to the ephilhet “Acliniarum pnlcherima,” 
j’Hn it bv Muller. They are not admired, simply because 
■ lo y are so tar removed from common observation, as to be 
rarely seen. Their great beauty, the certainty with 
Hich they are said to foretell a change of weather by the 
a Peni n g or closing their tentacula, and their great tenacity 
hte, by which they may be kept in confinement for years 
' d i an occasional change of water, would point them out 
a pretty, agreeable and useful variety to the ornaments 
IJr the boudoir. With but one exception, all of the ActiniidcB, 
p e single or formed ot only one polype, and locomotive, 
lr JUt the different species vary a great deal in activity ; the 
j 'j sl active perhaps is the Anthea cereus, which is the most 
a ‘*cate and shortest lived of all. The studded sea flowers 
sea daisies, in a state of nature rarely move from the spot 
f 0 vv hich they have once fixed themselves. Some of the 
, r,| ier I have known to retain their situations for five years; 
0 j. t Hen in confinement, they very freely move to all parts 
(I |be vessel. When quiescent they very firmly adhere by 
j a r:lr bases to the stones on whicb they rest. This adhesion 
s Humonly said to be effected by means of a glutinous 
0 j. Cre tion from the base; but never having found a secretion 
|. .^flieient tenacity to account for the firmness of their 
ft S Hie explanation must be sought for in some other way. 
in * 8 however readily found in the muscular loot disc, which 
^ contracting elevates the centre and a vacuum is formed, 
C ' r(;l * reference being closely in contact with the rock or 
Of 1 ’ 1 ®- A common and familiar illustration may be found 
jo, way in which it is done, in the school boy’s leathern 
iii iUr ' This is also the way in which it is efiectod in the 
o, rite, and most probably in all the others. If the edge 
bid 6 * 00 *" be raised witli the nail, the whole is easdy de- 
ilj ’ if fresh water be poured on them they immediately 
Ooj ari d then the adhesion is very little ; in the last place the 
p| can loose its bold at pleasure and move from place to 
e Hth a gentle gliding motion, but the moment it is 
“'Pled to be removed it regains its former firm hold. 
