NOTES ON SAGARTIID^ AND ZOANTHID^ FROM PLYMOUTH. 209 



This species does not appear to be at all common, or at all events 

 is seldom observed. 



Base very irregular, generally lobed and twisted in a most peculiar 

 manner. Fragments are constantly being split off, and speedily 

 develop into fresh individuals. 



Column very changeable in form. Surface finely corrugated, orange- 

 buff with numerous yellowish white longitudinal lines, 12 of which 

 are usually more prominent than the rest, paler about the base, and 

 darker at the summit. 



Disk as described by Gosse ; the white radial lines and rich orange 

 area about the tentacle bases. 



Tentacles generally short and stout, but capable of considerable 

 elongation. In many young specimens, 16 in number, 80 to 90 in 

 the largest examined, they are colourless, with three broad white 

 rings and marks at the base, as described by Gosse. Large specimens 

 measured 12 mm. in diameter at the base. Height of column, 

 7-8 mm. Acontia emitted reluctantly and from the upper part of 

 the cokimn and the mouth ; they are long and white. This species was 

 seldom firmly attached, and could be removed from the ascidians, etc., 

 with ease. 



The following varieties were observed: (a) Some of the tentacles 

 with two interrupted dark lines down their inner faces, somewhat 

 as in S. viduata, but more to the front of the tentacles, not con- 

 tinuous, and never present on all the tentacles ; (h) found upon water- 

 logged wood, etc. Column perfectly transparent, the mesenteries 

 showing as narrow white lines, the oesophageal region showing as an 

 orange-red patch. The column of this form, tall and pillar-like, as in 

 Gosse's figure, and the base less lobed. Height about 10 mm. 



Disk transparent, pinkish-white, white lines as usual ; the orange 

 area reduced to thin light red lines around the bases of the tentacles. 

 Mouth orange. Tentacles with indistinct white rings. Eeproduction 

 by longitudinal fission would appear to take place in this species. 

 One quite small one was noted, divided into two as far down as the 

 centre of the column. Carlgren remarks in 1896 : Stiidien uber 

 Nordische Actinien, p. 96, Sagartia undata, var. undata ^, " Moglicher- 

 weise ist diese Form identisch mit Gosse's (nicht Miiller's) 

 S. coccinea." 



Lack of the necessary material and literature prevent an attempt 

 to elucidate the relationship of the form with regard to the above, 

 to S. vidunta, to S. herdmani, and to S. (Actinia) lacerata, and I 

 therefore retain Gosse's name. 



