CARYOPHYLLTACEA. 



CAPNEADJi. 



THE YELLOW IMPERIAL. 

 A ure No nia heterocera. 

 Platk IX. Fig. 12. 

 Specific Character. Base scarcely exceeding column : yellow. 



Corynactis heterocera. W. Thompson (w.), Proc. Zool. Soc. 1853. Gosse, 



Man. Mar. Zool. i 28. E. P. Wright, Nat. 

 Hist. Review, April, 1859, p. 122. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Form. 



Base. Adherent to rocks : scarcely exceeding the column in width ; 

 very slightly undulate. 



Column. A stout cylindrical pillar, about as wide as high, but often con- 

 stricted below the margin, when the lower portion becomes nearly hemi- 

 spherical : margin forming a thick parapet, the inner edge of which is 

 crenate, and separated from the tentacles by a narrow fosse. Surface smooth, 

 entirely invested with a thin slimy epidermis, which is easily rubbed off. 

 and quickly renewed. Substance firm and coriaceous ; perfectly opaque. 



Dish. Nearly circular, entire, ample, membranous, flat or slightly 

 convex : radii fine but distinct. 



Tentacles. About 120, set in four rows, of which the outermost con- 

 tains 32; the others one or two less : they are short, thick, cylindrical, 

 with knobbed tips, diverse among themselves. The 

 knobs of the outermost row are little wider than 

 the stems, they are sub-conical, or kidney-shaped, 

 seemingly formed of two lobes, with a round 

 tubercle seated on the inner face just below the 

 knob. Of the second row the knobs consist of two 

 swellings divided by a constriction, each swelling 

 composed of two globose lobes placed side by side, 

 with a mucro terminating the whole. Of the two 

 innermost rows the knobs are nearly sessile ; they 

 are rondo-quadrangular, or shaped somewhat like 

 a loaf of bread. In the expanded state all these 



organs lie nearly horizontal, pointing outwards, and slightly overlapping 

 the parapet. 



TENTACLES OF A. HETE- 

 ROCERA. 



