96 A MANUAL 



believing tliat the former may be characteristic of 

 species, and the latter of variety. 



With these opinions I have drawn up and now 

 subjoin a tabular arrangement of species and 

 varieties, which differs in many respects from the 

 recorded opinions of naturalists on the subject. 



One point alone remains to be explained. The 

 "strawberry anemone" is here set down as a spe- 

 cies; and a casual observer will remark that its 

 difference from A. mesemhryantliemum is only one of 

 colour, and that therefore I am erring against my 

 own theory. But the fact is that there is a difference 

 of form; the largest " strawberry" is twice the size 

 of the largest mesemhryanthemum which can be found, 

 and on this ground I have made the separation. 



I have now only to add that I trust the reader 

 will understand that when I differ from other ob- 

 servers I do so in no dogmatic or ^presumptuous 

 spirit, but simply from the fact that I have acted in 

 accordance with what I believe to be the practice of 

 all honest naturalists. I have given considerable 

 time and attention to the subject, and have stated 

 fairly and accurately all that I have seen, and the 

 conclusion which my own reason has led me to infer 

 from my own observations and those of others, 

 whether recorded orally or in books. 



I would certainly not be dogmatic, for I believe 

 that the most learned in sea-anemones (as possibly 



