274 



MR. GOSSE ON PEACHIA HASTATA. 



unicolorous ; as is also the body generally, though this is sometimes varied by lines or 

 spots of another colour, which are by no means constant ; a line of different hue more 

 commonly encircles the base. The tentacles are moderately numerous, of medium thick- 

 ness, tapering to a point. 



These three genera may be therefore defined thus : — 



1. Sagartia, Gosse. — Actinia? basi adhserentes ; tentaculis conicis, facile retractilibus ; 



sph&rulis marginalibus nullis ; corpus everrucosum, filamenta capsulifera e poris 

 emittens ; fills urticantibus brevibus, pilorum fasciculo dense armatis. 



British species, viduata (=anguicoma, Price), Troglodytes, Aurora, Candida, rosea, 

 nivea, venusta, parasitica, Bellis, Dianthus. Probably also aurantiaca and pulcherrima 

 of Professor Jordan. The following exotic species, figured by Dana in the Zoophytes of 

 the American Exploring Expedition, seem to be referable to this genus : — Primula, the 

 beautiful decorata, and Fuegensis, both allied to our Bellis ; and Achates, reticulata, and 

 Paumotensis (perhaps the most magnificent of the whole tribe), which are evidently allied 

 to Dianthus. 



2. Btjnodes, Gosse. — Actinia sphaerulis marginalibus nullis. Corpus verrucosum ; cute 



coriacea, filamentis missilibus nullis ; filis urticantibus longis simplicibus ; tentaculis 

 plerumque crassis, conicis, obtusis. 



British species, gemmacea, thallia, clavata, crassicornis, Monile (probably the young of 

 crassicornis) ?, Chrysoplenium ?, alba ?, miniata ? Of exotic species, Diadema, pluvia, 

 Gemma, Artemisia, of Dana's Zoophytes, probably come here. 



3. Actinia, Linn. — Sph&rulce capsulifera? ad disci marginem seriatae. Corpus everruco- 



sum, poris filamentisque missilibus destitutum ; cute laevi. 



British species, Mesembryanthemum, margaritifera, Chiococca. Exotic species, Tabella 

 and graminea of Dana. 



The following British species are of doubtful place ; — coccinea, intestinalis, biserialis, 

 vermicularis. The very curious biserialis of the late lamented Professor Eorbes has a close 

 parallel in the Phodora of Dana ; and these may perhaps form another genus, when more 

 is known about them. Intestinalis and vermicularis, both from the Shetland seas, show, 

 in their slender lengthened form, an approach to the free condition of Peachia, &c. The 

 latter of these is a deep-water species (eighty fathoms) ; and, as Professor Eorbes 

 observes, looked when unattached " more like a planarian worm than an Actinia." 



The following table exhibits one manner in which the British 

 Actmiada? may be artificially distributed : — 



noncoralligenous 



Adherent 



"Tentacles gathered into groups Lucernaria. 



Tentacles scarcely (Adhering hase entire Anthea. 



X Adhering base annular Adamsia. 



Tentacles capitate Corynactu. 



Tentacles truncate Capnea. 



C emitting filaments Sagartia. 



Tentacles conti- 

 nuous. 



retractile. 



Tentacles readily 

 retractile. 



Tentacles conical 



1 without filaments 



fwarted Bunodes. 



I smooth . . Actinia. 



