This jellyfish occasionally grows up to eight feet in diameter, with tentacles a hundred or more feet long. The stinging cells can painfully wound a swimmer, but you may examine a small jellyfish safely by placing your hand on the smooth dorsal surface and turning it over. [Illustration: Sea Anemone] Sea Anemone (_Metridium dianthus_) Cylindrical, soft body Tentacles at top give flower-like appearance Generally very colorful The “petals” of the Sea Anemone’s flower-like head are actually tentacles covered with stinging cells and used to stun its food. Generally found in the water at tide level, the Sea Anemone moves by walking on its single, base-like foot. _The Worms_ [Illustration: Clam Worm] Clam Worm (_Nereis virens_) Jointed One pair of paddle-like feet per segment Two “tails” Pinchers on the head (watch out!) This is the best-known worm on the beach because of its desirability as fish bait. During the day it lives in its burrow in the sand, wandering forth at night and swimming about in the water, where it becomes easy prey for gulls and fishes. The skin is brilliantly iridescent in the sunlight. _The Crustaceans_ [Illustration: Common Barnacle] Common Barnacle (_Balanus balanolides_) Common on rocks and shellfish White, volcano-shaped shell Two “barn doors” at top This animal goes through life standing on its head and kicking food into its mouth with its feet! When it is submerged in sea water you can see its shell doors open and its feather-like feet sweep the water for microscopic food organisms. The limy shell first suggests a relationship with the clam, but body structure shows it to be a closer relative of the crab. [Illustration: Shrimps] Shrimps (_Crago septemspinosus_, the Sand Shrimp, and _Palaemonetes vulgaris_, the Prawn) Hard, transparent shell Long antennae Paddle-like tail These tiny tide-pool creatures look for all the world like the larger edible shrimp served in local restaurants. Actually, these miniature two-inch-long shrimps are edible also, and quite enjoyable if you have the time and patience to collect enough for a meal. [Illustration: American Lobster] American Lobster (_Homarus americanus_) Bits and pieces of Lobster are frequently found on the beach, but seldom the entire animal. The Lobster inhabits deeper water and finds its way to shore only after losing a battle with one of its enemies. A favorable dining size is one or two pounds; however, Lobsters do attain weights up to forty pounds. [Illustration: True Crabs] True Crabs (Cancridae and Portunidae) Football-shaped in cross section Two large claws Eyes mounted on stalks The three very common True Crabs of Crane’s Beach may be found in one search of the tidal pools. They are: