ACTINIA. 235 



Plate XLVIII. Fig. 3. Actinia maculata seated on a shell occupied by the 



Hermit Crab. 



4. The same specimen, having quitted its original position, 



and now adhering to the bottom of a glass vessel. 



5. Vivid yellow spherules, as produced by the Actinia ma- 



culata, enlarged. 



§ 8. Actinia dianthus — plumosa. — Plate XLIX. — Of all the Acti- 

 nia? inhabiting the Scotish seas, the species about to be described is pro- 

 bably the largest, and certainly it is the most beautiful. The Gemmacea 

 alone may rival its size. 



Naturalists in general are too inattentive to the condition of the ani- 

 mals on which they offer their comments, and the qualifications of the artists 

 they employ, for too many delineations are insufficient and unsatisfactory, 

 whence much embarrassment results to their fellow-students, and infinite 

 obstruction to the progress of science. Doubts of identity are excited, 

 synonyms are endlessly multiplied, and unnecessary discussions ensue, which 

 would be all repressed by faithful representation of such an animal as is 

 the subject of this paragraph, for no correct impression can be otherwise 

 imparted of the peculiarities of its form and aspect. To submit the figure 

 of that animated being which the author describes to the reader, cannot 

 but be an indispensable introduction to all commentary on its nature. 



The Actinia dianthus or plumosa, which latter should be deemed its 

 more expressive name, rises at least six inches high ; the head or disc ex^ 

 pands quite five inches, and the portion or pillar under it is three in diame- 

 ter. This latter, which is properly the middle part of all Actiniae, is not 

 much dissimilar from the corresponding portion of the others already de- 

 scribed ; but the higher is entirely different, being of such appearance and 

 character as are difficult to be explained in words, or to be understoood, 

 without ocular inspection. 



The mouth occupies the centre of the disc as usual. It is prominently 

 fluted, and environed by a row of tentacula rising from the surface of the 

 disc along with some others, and at some distance. Towards what may 

 be called the exterior of the margin, the disc subdivides into an indefinite 



