432 THE PURPLE-SPOTTED ANEMONE. 



which Mr. Cocks speaks of, as surrounding the mar- 

 gin of his A. alba in three rows. Hence, considering 

 also the well-marked dark ring emhracing the tentacle- 

 bases, I am inclined to dOubt whether the present 

 may not he an undescribed species. Should it prove 

 such, I would propose for it the name of Actinia 

 Candida. 



Plate YIII, fig. 1 1 represents this species of the 

 natural size, contracted ; fig. 12, the same, magnified ; 

 fig. 13, with the disk expanded. 



The (so-called) ovarian filaments are protruded from 

 the pores in various parts of the body with great readi- 

 ness by this species on the slightest irritation. They 

 are slender, white, and highly ciliated, so as to move 

 freely with apparent spontaneity. On being subjected 

 to pressure, they were found to contain a number of 

 filiferous capsules quite amazing ; I should think it 

 by no means a hyperbole to presume that many mil- 

 lions of these ofi'ensive weapons are wielded by one 

 Actinia. As usual, they exhibit diff'erent models of 

 structure, and different sizes. (See Plate XXVIIL, 

 figs. 21 to 27.) 



The largest are longo-elliptical, or oblong, slightly 

 enlarged towards one end; -^th inch in length, and 

 3^th in width ; a linear cylindrical body passes down 

 through the centre, which seems to pervade the whole 

 length, but becomes evanescent towards the posterior 

 end. (Figs. 21, 22.) The thread when propelled is 

 quite unique ; it is not more than \\ times as long as 

 the capsule ; and is armed, except at the basal third, 

 with a dense brush of bristles, pointing in a reverse 

 direction, and thus constituting so many barbs. (Fig. 



