182 THE PLUMOSE ANEMONE. 



into an Aquarium, of wliicli the Palcemones are tenants, 

 in a veiy few minutes each of the latter will be found 

 to have captured one of the elegant strangers, and to 

 be greedily devouring it. 



Here, too, we got the Scarlet-lined ^sop {Fandalus 

 annulicornis) ^ a Prawn of larger dimensions, sufficient 

 to entitle it to a place at our tables. You would at 

 first sight mistake it for the common Prawn (^Palcemon 

 serratus), but for the diagonal stripes of rich red that 

 run along each side of its pellucid body. It is a 

 handsome species ; but as I have not observed any 

 peculiarities of importance in its economy, I content 

 myself with a figure of it, which will be found in 

 Plate YI. 



THE PLUMOSE ANEMONE. 



This species [Actinia diantlius) is by far the 

 largest and most magnificent of our native Ane- 

 mones, though I think I could hardly call it, with 

 Miiller, " actiniarum jpulcherrima^^ as it is excelled 

 in beauty surely by A. crassicornis, and by several 

 of the smaller species.* It varies greatly in size, 

 form (so far at least as this depends on exten- 

 sion or contraction), and colour. I have seen speci- 

 mens in the same colony, doubtless a family group, 

 one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and others four 

 inches. Dr. Johnston speaks of some five inches 

 wide. Sometimes the same individual shrinks down 

 to an abject flatness, and presently swells and rises 



* A more extended acquaintance with the species has induced me 

 to rescind this judgment, and to concur in MuUer's verdict. {Second 

 Edition.) 



