THE TRANSLUCENT ANEMONE. 83 



This species I know only by the descriptions and figures 

 of Mr. Joshua Alder, who has kindly put into my hands, 

 not only the published ' : Catalogue of the Zoophytes of 

 Northumberland and Durham," in which it first received 

 a name and place among our Anemones, but additional 

 notes in MS., and several original drawings. All these 

 I have used in my diagnosis and figure. The name 

 " pelhicida" originally applied to this little animal, 

 having been preoccupied, Mr. Alder proposes that it should 

 be called " pura." 



Little is known of its history. Its discoverer observes 

 of it, — " It has occurred to me two or three times at 

 Cullercoats, on old shells, — -crusted shells of Fusus antl- 

 quus from deep water, — nestling among the Serpulse and 

 Barnacles with which they were covered. It is so incon- 

 spicuous, when contracted, as to elude observation ; and it 

 was not till the shells had been some time in sea-water, 

 and the Actinia became expanded, that its presence was 

 detected. A specimen kept in a vase was very restless, 

 shifting its place continually, and often changing form." 



It seems to be somewhat rare. Mr. Alder has seen but 

 three specimens. Mr. 11. Howse has obtained it once or 

 twice from the five-men boats, on the same coast. His 

 specimens were slightly larger than Mr. Alder's. 



sphyrodeta. 



PURA. 



pellucida. 



G2 



