98 THE INTERNAL LAMINAE. 



the two ends of the mouth, which is an oblong aper- 

 ture, contracting to a slit, there are two more con- 

 spicuous white dashes each extending towards the 

 nearest tentacle. 



The tentacles are very long, slender, taper and 

 flexible. They form about five alternating rows, of 

 which the outmost are shorter and more numerous. 

 They appear to me to be numbered as follows: — 12. 

 12. 24. 48. 96=192: of course approximately. They 

 are of the most delicate pellucid white, marked with 

 two or three annular bands of positive white, but very 

 evanescently ; these are, however, more perceptible 

 in young than in adult specimens. Each tentacle 

 is striated with a narrow line of dark brown, which 

 runs along each side throughout its length. This 

 line is readily identified, and appears quite character- 

 istic of the species. 



When looked at through a glass, to the side of 

 which the base is adherent, the transparency of the 

 substance permits with peculiar facility the internal 

 structure to be seen. The converging laminae are 

 very distinct, arranged in pairs, about twelve of which 

 extend from the circumference to the centre, about as 

 many intermediate pairs are lost before they reach 

 the centre, and other pairs respectively occupying the 

 interspaces, can be traced only a short distance from 

 the circumference. The appearance is well suited to 

 give a vivid impression of the analogy in structure 

 between an Actinia and a Madrepore. Let these 

 membranous plates only have a deposit of lime upon 

 them, and they become the skeleton of a coral. 

 Within the spaces inclosed by the laminse, I could 



