196 ZOOPHYTA HELIANTHOIDA. 



elegantly fringed and radiated flowers, such as the Carnation, 

 Marygold, and Anemone." The language of Le Sueur in re- 

 spect of the tropical coral-bearing tribes is still warmer. The 

 little polypes of Porites astroides, when in blow, remind him of 

 a field enamelled with small flowers ; and of them in general 

 he says, — " Quand la mer est calme, c'est un spectacle admira- 

 ble que de voir les belles couleurs veloutees qu'ils e'talent : elles 

 imitent les tapis les plus riches et les plus varies. Pres d'eux 

 se montrent des gorgones et des serpules dont les houpes 

 blanches, jaunes et rouges, brillent de I'eclat le plus vif, et des 

 amphitrites qui elevent au-dessus de I'eau leur tete couronnee 

 de palmes enrichies des teintes les plus variees. Je ne pouvois 

 me lasser d'admirer avec quelle profusion ces animaux sont 

 groupes et enlaces : c'etoit a regret qu'apres m'etre promene 

 long-temps au milieu d'eux je me determinois a les arracher du 

 sein des eaux, et a en mettre des fragments dans un baquet, que 

 je faisois de suite transporter chez moi pour examiner a loisir 

 les animaux particuliers a chacun des polypiers." * — It is only, 

 however, when they lie with their upper disk expanded and 

 their tentacula displayed, that they solicit comparison with the 

 boasts of Flora, for when contracted the polypes of the madre- 

 pores conceal themselves in their calcareous cups, and the Ac- 

 tiniae hide their beauty, assuming the shape of an obtuse cone 

 or hemisphere of a fleshy consistence, or elongating themselves 

 into a sort of flabby cylinder that indicates a state of relaxation 

 and indolent repose. 



The Actinia gemmacea is the only species which the anato- 

 mist has yet examined with care, f but it may safely be chosen as 

 the representative of its order, the probability being that the 

 deviations from its structure in the other species and genera are 

 only of secondary consequence. Of the species mentioned Mr 

 Teale has given a very elaborate anatomy, :}: more correct and 

 minute than any hitherto published, but the sketch to suit our 

 design, must be of a more general character. 



* Memoires du Museum, Tom. vi. p. 272 and 287. 



f M. Delle Chiaje has, it seems, anatomized several other species, but I have 

 no access to bis works. Bull. des. Sc. Nat. xvii. 470. 



I " On the Anatomy of Actinia coriacea, by Thomas Pridgin Teale," in 

 Transactions of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, Vol. i. 



