SEA- ANEMONES. 123 



but which was the aggressor, it was difficuh to say. How- 

 ever this might be, the Edwardsia was evidently getting 

 the w^orst of it, and appeared evidently in danger of being 

 swallowed by his more sedentary antagonist. They were 

 parted, when the Edtvardsia lay on the bottom of the vessel 

 apparently very much exhausted, with his tentacles shrivelled 

 up. Unfortunately the final result was not known : whether 

 it died or recovered, I am unable to say. 



Peachia hastata, Gosse. 



This is another abnormal form of Actinoid Zoophyte, 

 approaching, in form and appearance, the character of the 

 Sea Cucumber, and differing from all other Actinias in hav- 

 ing a posterior opening. It is unattached, and lives buried 

 with its body upright in the sand, the tentacular disc being 

 aboveground. It was found by the Rev. Charles Kingsley 

 in the neighbourhood of Torquay, and described by Mr. 

 Gosse in the '' Transactions of the Linnsean Society.'' The 

 body is pear-shaped, transparent, very pale red, with white 

 longitudinal lines running from one end to the other, at 

 equal distances. It is protected partly by a very thin epi- 

 dermis, which is apt to burst and hang in shreds w4ien the 

 animal distends itself. The upper disc is oval, surrounded 



