[ 236 ] 



Notes on various British Anthozoa. 



By 

 Chas. L. Walton. 



I. Sagartia ornata (Holds worth). 



This species is described and figured by Gosse in his Actinologia 

 Britannica, quoting its original discoverer Holdsworth, who obtained a 

 number of specimens at the entrance of Dartmouth harbour from 

 among the roots of Laminaria. In Section III of the Appendix, 

 Gosse (p. o55) adds: "I have taken this at Torquay. It has also been 

 found at Mizen Head, and sent me from Banff. The markings are 

 true to the description, and leave no doubt of its distinctness as a 

 species." 



I recently (July, 1910) obtained specimens at Aberystwyth, attached 

 to a fixed stone at the bottom of a deep pool near low-water mark on 

 the reefs below the University. Dr. Fleure recognised them as having 

 occurred some ten years previously in crevices on the reefs below the 

 Castle; that colony, however, disappeared, this being the first subsequent 

 rediscovery. The colony consisted of an adult, on either side of which 

 was situated a young individual, and from the irregular form and 

 development of these I consider, them to have recently originated by 

 fission from the base of the large specimen. 



The adult, although agreeing in the main with the plate and descrip- 

 tions of Holdsworth and Gosse, showed some variation, chiefly in lack 

 of distinctness and definition of the colouration, which had a some- 

 what blurred appearance. 



Size when expanded : height of column, 5 mm. ; diameter, 10 mm. 

 Outline of base irregular. Column — smooth, with suckers on the 

 upper portion. Faintly grooved longitudinally by the insertion of the 

 mesenteries. Disk : convex during expansion, smooth. Mouth of fair 

 size, raised, tumid, the throat somewhat ribbed. 



Tentacles fairly numerous (about eighty-six), rather stout, tapering 

 to the tip, held flexed outwards during expansion. Acontia fairly freely 

 emitted. 



