. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. THE AUSTKALIAX MUSEUM MAGAZ1^'E. 81 from tlie crevices in the rock, or slowly ci'awling over the fine white sand. These are the beche-de-mer, and at one time they were extensively collected and largely exported to China. Although called by the fishers "sea slugs" or "teat- lisli," tliey are neither slugs nor fish, but are closely related to the star- fishes. GIANT SEA AXKMOXES. The familial- crimson-coloured sea anemones from Port Jackson and our adjacent coastal beaches are veritable pygmies comi)ared to some of their tro-
. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. THE AUSTKALIAX MUSEUM MAGAZ1^'E. 81 from tlie crevices in the rock, or slowly ci'awling over the fine white sand. These are the beche-de-mer, and at one time they were extensively collected and largely exported to China. Although called by the fishers "sea slugs" or "teat- lisli," tliey are neither slugs nor fish, but are closely related to the star- fishes. GIANT SEA AXKMOXES. The familial- crimson-coloured sea anemones from Port Jackson and our adjacent coastal beaches are veritable pygmies comi)ared to some of their tro- pical allies. The Great Barrier Eeef. Clam shells and large Ijlue-coloured Starfishes standing out in bold relief against the glistening white of the coral sand. produces giant specimens which may measure no less than from 18 inches to 2 feet across their expanded discs. These giant anemones are further in- teresting on account of the circum- stance that they are self-constituted "harbours of refuge" to sundry fishes and crab'^. Tlie anemones are them- selves bright in colour, but the associated fishes are even more so. In addition a small crab shares the sheltering hos- pitality of the anemone. Some of these tropical coral-reef-frequenting anemones, which have their tentacles beautifully l)raiiched. must lie cautiously handled in consequence of their notalile stinging properties. From the side of our boat we were al)le to look down into the clear depths of tiie sea and admire the wonders of the ocean bed. Whole stretches of the sea floor are covered over by the so- called soft corals with here and there collections of clam shells and laro-e blue- coloured starfishes, wliich stand oai in bold relief against the glistening white :)f tlie coral sand. EA(iLK At Eagle Island a pair of beautiful sea eagles were seen hovering over- head, and we found their nest, which stood about ten feet in height, on the windward side of the island. The nest contained one egg an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
