found on the Coast of Devon, 89 



body sometimes swells out by imbibition, so as to become semi- 

 transparent ; this is probably more the effect of some change in 

 the specific gravity of the water, than through the power of the 

 animal. It generally happens if fresh water be added. When so 

 swollen out, the septa between the chambers are plainly visible 

 from beneath. 



/3. Without conspicuous tubercles. 

 2. Actinia alba, 



A pretty and quiet little species, rare with us, or more pro- 

 bably not easily found from its lying so flat to the rocks when 

 in a contracted state ; and this is in itself enough to recognize it 

 from Troglodytes, an abundant inhabitant of every rock-pool. 

 The specimen of A, alba from which the following description 

 was taken, had been in our possession more than a year, during 

 which time it had never moved in the slightest degree. Wish- 

 ing to prop up an injured specimen of another species, the hol- 

 low niche of the stone which formed its home was partially filled 

 up with fine sand. This annoyed the hitherto stationary Ane- 

 mone, and it at once began to take a walking tour, moving 

 along with tolerable rapidity by the usual mode of progression, 

 namely the elongation of the disc. Any other mode of loco- 

 motion is undoubtedly rare amongst the Actinice, It was long 

 before the poor Httle Anemone could settle down to its former 

 life, or find a comfortable resting-place. It seldom even expands 

 except at night. During the time in which it has remained 

 with us, it has not apparently increased in size at all. When laid 

 flatly on the rock as in contraction it is not quite half an inch 

 in diameter, and when expanded it does not measure as much as 

 this, even including the tentacles in the admeasurement. It 

 generally lies perfectly flat upon the surface of the stone, like a 

 thin gelatinous crust ; in its thickest part only raised about a 

 line from the rock. It is then of an oval form, and the aperture 

 at the oral disc not round, but linear ; it is of a cream colour, 

 with about twelve whiter lines stretching from the centre to the 

 circumference ; between these are other lines, but not so broad 

 and not extending the whole way. The first lines probably in- 

 dicate the divisions of the ovarian chambers. When expanded 

 it becomes very pretty, its body is cylindrical, and from the 

 summit radiate the tentacles, forming a most beautiful circlet 

 something like a daisy. The tentacles are filiform, in three or 

 four rows, much more slender and proportionately shorter than 

 in the next species. Their colour is white, with three narrow 

 dark rings. Within the tentacles is a circle of yellow, and in- 

 side this again a white ring suri'ounding the mouth, which rarely 

 expands so fully as to be quite round. Our specimen certainly 



6* 



