244 BULLETIN OF THE BUBLEAU OF FISHERIES. 



or less specialized at times, apparently serving as tactile organs, being greatly extended and vigorously 

 vibrated in various directions. Figure 8, plate XLiii, will give a good general impression of the 

 appearance of the animal. 



Habitat: More or less common on rocky or gravelly beaches adhering to the under side of rocks, 

 or in crevices; also found among masses of ascidians on piles of docks, and among colonies of sponges, 

 worm tubes, etc. It is quite susceptible to light and invariably seeks shaded or protected localities. 

 They are much more commonly found under stones along rocky beaches than elsewhere. They are 

 readily adaptable to an aquarium habitat, living in apparently normal vigor for several weeks if some 

 care be taken to provide fairly good water and occasionally some shreds of meat, as bits of shrimp or 

 clam, etc. In this habitat it is quite easy to study the habits of the organism to one's content. Else- 

 where I have given some account of their behavior in relation to light intensity, etc. Specimens occa- 

 sionally adopt a burrowing habit and secrete themselves in sand. 



Reproduction : This seems to be wholly of the sexual sort. During several years of fairly close obser- 

 vations I have never seen the slightest indications of budding or fission. Furthermore, the sexes seem 

 to be quite distinct. I have repeatedly undertaken to study the development of the species, but have 

 found it difficult to secure ripe males and females at the same time. Only once have I succeeded in 

 getting early traces of cleavage. UTiether the transfer of specimens to the aquarium tends to check the 

 reproductive function I am uncertain. I have repeatedly had eggs deposited in the dishes, and in a few 

 cases sperms were deposited at the same time, but in only one instance have normal fertilization and 

 development followed. I have bad a similar experience with other actinians, e.g., Metridium, and am 

 disposed to regard the transfer to an artificial condition as tending to check or modify the sexual activity. 

 An examination of sperms obtained under these circumstances showed them to be quite active and appar- 

 ently normal ; but attempts to fertilize eggs liberated at the same time seldom gave any response. 



Distribution: This is given by Verrill as from North Carolina to Cape Cod. I have taken them in 

 Long Island Sound and in Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay, etc. — a fairly abundant species throughout 

 the entire region. 



TEALIA Gosse, 1858. 



Tealia crassicomis Muller. [Text fig. 3 and 4.] 



Actinia crassicomis Muller, 1776; Gmelin, 1788, 1793, 179S; Johnston, Hist. Brit, Zooph., 1847, p. 226. 

 Rhodactinia davisii Agassiz, Compt. Rend.. 1847, p. 677; Verrill, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 1, 1864, p. 18. 

 Butwdes crassicomis Gosse, Ann. Nat. Hist., 1855, p. 294. 



Tealia crassicomis Gosse, ibid., 1858. p. 417: Actinologia Britannica, i860, p. 209. 

 Andres, Fauna u. Flora GoUes v. Neapel, bd. ix, p. 199. 



The synonomy of this species is extremely intricate and confusing. It may be doubted whether 

 in the entire literature of Actiniaria a more complicated case can be found. This may be due in part 

 to the highly variable external features, which have been so largely taken by the early naturalists as 

 diagnostic. No attempt has been made to present more than the briefest outline in the above list. 

 To those who are concerned as to this feature fuller details may be found in the masterful work of Andres 

 (vide supra). 



In connection with the above reference to the variable aspects of the species it may be well to cite 

 certain facts. For example, Verrill had long ago pointed out this feature, saying "in form it is very 

 mutable, both ends being capable of great distension or contraction. It will often assume a variety of 

 the most diversified forms within a very few minutes. " As to color he makes similar reference: " Deep 

 crimson, mottled with pink; littoral specimens most commonly of a clear bluish-green color, irregularly 

 blotched with crimson or reddish brown." The specimens taken by mc, though comparatively few, 

 have shown similar variability, especially as to coloration. I have not observed the extreme variation 

 of form mentioned by Verrill. It should be stated, however, that my specimens were mostly of small 

 size , and being dredged from a depth of some 20 fathoms were more or less contracted , only a few of them 

 living long after being taken and these apparently not extending fully in the aquarium. 



