OF SEA-ANEMONES. 103 



move constantly of their own accord from place to 

 place. From what I have seen of A. dianthus, and 

 some hundreds have passed through my hands, I am 

 of the same opinion as our lamented friend Dr. 

 Johnston, that Mr. Couch's A. dianthus, which he 

 finds between tide -marks, is a distmct species." 



A. parasitica, "The Parasitic Anemone." — On 

 this species Mr. Thompson writes to me as follows : — 

 " It is by no means scarce in Weymouth Ba}' ; I 

 dredge two or three of a day, and after a storm they 

 may be found thrown on the shore. I have never 

 found them on bivalves or living univalves : they are 

 occasionally taken on stones. Their favourite site 

 is in a shell of the common whelk, B. undatum, 

 which is inhabited by a hermit-crab. The crab 

 walks about, if not unconscious of, at all events not 

 caring for, its living load, and the Actinia no doubt 

 rides about from one feeding-ground to another, 

 with great advantage to itself, if not with great 

 pleasure." 



A. aurora. — It will be seen that I have grouped 

 four of Mr. Gosse's species and two new varieties 

 (which have at least equal claims to be considered 

 as species) under one head. During the last two 

 years I have seen numberless specimens of all these 

 kinds from Tenby, from Lundy Island, and from 

 Morte- stone, and there is no doubt in my own mind 



