MR. GOSSE ON PEACHIA HASTATA. 271 
culis paucis, brevibus (disci diametrum: haud superantibus), crassis, conicis, uni- 
seriatis; oviductu in tuberculum papillosum desinente. 
1, PEACHIA HASTATA (Gosse), corpore roseo lineis æqualibus pallidis, tentaculis 12 albo- 
hyalinis seriebus 2 parallelis macularum sagittatarum brunnearum notatis, disco 
circulis duobus macularum brunnearum V-formium cincto, oviductüs papillis nume- 
rosis aggregatis. — 
2?. PEACHIA ? CHRYSANTHELLUM, corpore cylindrico albido lineis inæqualiter latis, ten- 
taculis brunneo annulatis. ; 
Actinia chrysanthellum, Peach. 
The principal interest of this form is the decided approach which it makes to a higher 
type of existence than that of the AcTINODERMATA. The sensitiveness to alarm, and the 
spring-like rapidity of its motions, indicate a greater condensation in the nervous and 
muscular systems; but the existence of a posterior opening to the digestive canal is a 
still more decisive advance in structural rank. The approach to the ECHINODERMATA, 
through the Sipwnculide, is marked, not only by this important character, but also by 
form, by the degeneration of the tentacles in number and dimensions, and by the 
' tendency to break up the body by spontaneous constriction. 
"The genus Edwardsia of M. Quatrefages, still further diminishes the interval between 
the Actinie and the Holothurie ; for the mouth and tentacula are, in that genus, seated 
at the end of a delicate column, which is retractile within the coriaceous trunk, as it is 
in Syring nudus; and the balloon-like inflation at the posterior extremity reminds us of 
the same animal. It is curious to trace also, in Syrinz itself, an approach to the 
Actinoderm-type, in the digestive canal terminating near the head, the greater portion of 
the body being imperforate. x 
I may observe, in passing, that the genus Ædwardsia is represented by two A 
species. One was described and figured by myself in the ** Annals of Natural History for 
Sept. 1853, under the name of Scolanthus callimorphus ; but, as I am now convinced that 
notwithstanding the apparently simple posterior extremity in that species, it must be 
referred to Edwardsia, the genus Scolanthus must be cancelled. The name will hence 
become Edwardsia callimorpha. Another species is described by Mr. Kingsley (in litt.), 
which appears to be E. Beautempsii of M. Quatrefages. ; : 
I will embrace this opportunity of making a few observations on the more typical 
Actinie. Restricted as is the genus Actinia, by the separation from it of Adamsia and 
Anthea among British, of Metridium and Actinecta, and — others among exotic 
species, and by the creation of such genera as Capnea, Corynactis, Ziyanthus, Ui dus 
still so immense a group, that any subdivision of it on sound principles is desirable, 
i i ifficulty of defining species in this tribe. Indeed, 
especially when we consider the great difficulty of de i = RR 
I hold that, wherever we find several characters co-existent in a quim number o Se 
none of which are common to other species, the species possessing such characters oug 
to be elevated to the rank of a separate genus. 
liio; hdc 
Applying these principles to the group before us, I find a number of Actinie, whic 
