"Yes, dozens of them. How beautiful--purple and yellow in every shade!" added Mr. Lane.
"What! those filmy-looking things against the sides?" asked Joe, lying flat on the rocks to see better.
"Yes; those are sea-anemones."
"See 'em shut up when I poke 'em," cried John, coming with a stick to show them off.
"No, no, John; not yet," cried Mr. Andrews, motioning him away. "We want to see them open. See them wave their tentacles in search of food! Ah, one fellow has a periwinkle eating!"
"You don't mean to say that soft-looking thing can eat that winkle!" exclaimed Dave.
"Yes, indeed, and very much larger things than that.--Let me take the stick, John."
Then touching one of the anemones with it in the gentlest way, he caused it to draw in its tentacles and shut up like a puckered bag, all beauty gone.
"Oh, leave the rest open!" cried the boys.
Mr. Lane stooped down, and, working carefully and perseveringly, detached one from the side of the rock, and offered it to Joe. But it was not an inviting-looking object out of its element; and Joe, shrinking back, said, "Thanks,--no jelly for me."