Verrill.] 336 



has not hitherto been observed on our coast, although aoundantly 

 represented on the coast of Great Britain. 



Sagartia leucolena Verrill, sp. nov. 



Column subtransparent, long, slender, and cylindrical in expansion, 

 with a narrow base, adherent to rocks. Tentacles numerous, in full 

 expansion very long, more than twice the diameter of body, and 

 slender, tapering to the point, semipellucid. One of the primary ten- 

 tacles in the longitudinal plane (opposite one end of the mouth) is 

 much longer than the others, and when extended reaches far above 

 them, and is often differently colored, being sometimes tipped with 

 wliite. This is not constantly extended, and is ordinarily not very 

 apparent. Cinclidas distinct, appearing like minute, dark colored 

 spots when partly contracted, arranged in vertical rows, not numer- 

 ous, much scattered. 



" Acontia " not observed to be thrown out of the cinclidae ; but oc- 

 casionally, when in a sickly condition, a few are thrown out of the 

 mouth, appearing like fine white threads. Surface of the body with 

 light colored longitudinal lines, or sulcations opposite the internal 

 radiating lamellse, and when not fully extended, marked with fine 

 transverse muscular wrinkles ; no suckers apparent. Mouth with ten 

 prominent, little, rounded lobes on each side, lighter colored than the 

 disk. Color of body usually light salmon, or flesh-color ; disk similar, 

 with fine white radii ; tentacles pellucid white exteriorly, usually with 

 a dark centre, which nearly disappears when fully extended, each side 

 of the base ordinarily has a patch of greenish or brown ; these usually 

 run to a point on the disk, and meet, or nearly so, on the inner sur- 

 face of the tentacles, not far above the base. 



The largest specimen observed, when in full expansion, was 2.5 

 inches high, about .4 inch in diameter, with tentacles more than an inch 

 long, forming a very graceful tuft at the summit of the slender body. 

 This species does not ordinarily contract into a flat or conical form, 

 but becomes short and cylindrical, often with the summit swollen, 

 and globular. 



Found under stones near New Haven Light, Long Island Sound, 

 and in New York Harbor.* 



This beautiful and graceful Actinia often attaches itself by its nar- 

 row base to a stone somewhat beneath the surface of the sea-bottom, 

 and rises up to the surface, in expansion, to display its tentacles. 

 Most frequently it adheres to the under surface of stones of moderate 

 size, where there are spaces below. It occurs fi'om half-tide mark 

 to low water, abundantly. In confinement it is very hardy, and 

 thrives well in an aquarium, remaining in expansion a great part of the 



*My attention was first called to this si)ecies by Prof. D. C. Eaton, who discov- 

 ered it several years ago. 



