ACTINIA. 



229 



The subject of this paragraph, rises about an inch in height ; and the 

 distance between the opposite tips of the tentacula somewhat exceeds two 

 inches. The specimen selected for representation rose nine lines ; it was 

 less in diameter, and provided with between seventy and eighty long ten- 

 tacula, disposed in a triple row, the innermost consisting of only eighteen. 

 The body of the animal is universally of gallstone yellow ; short white lines 

 descend from the external roots of the tentacula to the base. A double 

 belt of faint brown encircles the tentacula, which are longer in proportion 

 than those of any other species I am acquainted with. Their recurvature, 

 and the contrasting colours of the body, render this Actinia an interest- 

 ing object.— Plate XLVII. fig. 12. 



When these organs are retracted, the animal is flattened down as 

 thin as a card, the surface resembling a star, with forty or fifty white lines 

 radiating from the centre. 



This is a timid creature, very impatient of the light, contracting 

 hastily on exposure to it ; and remaining long in that state. But it dis- 

 plays itself at night, seldom appearing earlier, and then stretches itself as 

 high as possible. 



It does not feed readily, and exuviation seems to be continually 



going on. 



Perpetuation. — Regarding this subject a remarkable analogy seems to 

 subsist, though after a different form, between the propagation of the 

 Actinia lacerata and that of the hydra, whose history has been already so 

 copiously illustrated. 



When specimens stretch as much as they can at night, it may be 

 called their active state. When contracted, thin, and flattened, they are 

 in a passive state, and it is then that the configuration of the base is ex- 

 posed. 



Whether, as in some other Actinia), the young be ever produced by 

 the mouth, I cannot affirm. The observer, without ocular demonstra- 

 tion of the fact, may be here betrayed into error, for he will frequently 

 find small vascular specimens along with adults. But, during a large por- 

 tion of the year, particularly in August and September, nor perhaps ex- 

 cluding any month, the great irregularity of the base of adults cannot 



