SEA-ANEMONES. 93 



specimens. In the newborn young of A, gemmacea, the 

 beautiful markings of the tentacula are distinctly conspi- 

 cuous. Young Sea-flowers, jerked from the parent's mouth 

 and colonizing near it, are among the most exquisite ob- 

 jects of an Aquarium. 



Actiniadce, as a family, are not however exclusively con- 

 fined to creatures of the form I have described in this and 

 the preceding chapter. There are considerable variations 

 among different members of the group. There are some 

 which have no adherent bases, but which possess other cha- 

 racters in common with true Actmice ; some with tentacles 

 scarcely retractile, others with knobbed tentacles. Other 

 variations distinguish the different genera of the family, of 

 which the following is a summary. 



All Actiniadoi are divided into those which are adherent 

 and those which are not adherent. 



Adherent Actiniadce are divided into those whose tenta- 

 cles are retractile, and those which have non-retractile 

 tentacles. 



Adherent Actiniadce with non-retractile or scarcely retrac- 

 tile tentacles are divided into two genera : — 



1. With a simple circular base. — Authea. 



2. With a lobed and annular base. — Adarnsia. 



