SEA-ANEMONES. 97 



found necessary, on account of an increased number of spe- 

 cies and increased knowledge, to divide a genus, that the 

 original generic name should be attached to the first species 

 to which it was applied. 



There is one peculiarity in those species which are now 

 placed under the generic name Sagartia, which is not ob- 

 served in the others, and which forms a fair line of sepa- 

 ration : it is that they have long threads or filaments 

 contained in the soft parts of their bodies, which, when irri- 

 tated or frightened, they throw out through pores in their 

 skin. I have seen these threads thrown out to the length 

 of an inch or more, and coiled up together at the ends. 

 They contain filiferous capsules of the same kind as those 

 contained in the tentacles. 



The genera Bunodes and Actinia are separated upon less 

 important grounds ; namely, that the outer covering of the 

 former is rough and warty, while that of the latter is 

 smooth. 



Sagartia anguicoma. — (Plate VI. fig. 1, 2, 3.) 



The " Snal'e-locJcecV Anemone is one of the most pleas- 

 ing objects of a Aquarium collection, on account of the ex- 

 treme gracefulness of its numerous, long, transparent, twirl- 



H 



