NOTES ON BRITISH ANTHOZOA. 239 



were lost through rough seas, etc. The Actinian fauna of the 

 S. Devon coast is now fairly well known. A recent short search on 

 reefs near Sidmouth (December 25tli, 1909) produced only a solitary 

 specimen of A. equina ; E. J. Allen and E. A. Todd record that species 

 and also Ancm on ia sulcata from the Orcombe Kocks at the mouth of the 

 Exe. Many records from Teignmouth, Torquay and district, and Dart- 

 mouth are given by Gosse and others. Allen and Todd enumerate eight 

 species from Salcombe ; and the rich favma of the Plymouth area is 

 well known. My only excuse, therefore, for these notes is that they 

 help to link up the Plymouth and Salcombe records as regards this 

 group. 



The following species were obtained : 1, Actinia equina ; 2, Anenionia 

 sulcata {Anthca cereus) ; 3, Ccreus ■pcdunculatus (S. beliis) ; 4, Safjartia 

 miniata ; 5, Sagartia rosea ; 6, Sagartia venusta ; 7, Sagartia nivea ; 

 8, Sagartia sphyrodeta ; 9, Phcllia rnurocincta ; 10, Bunodes verrucosa 

 (B. gcmmacea) ; 11, Tcalia coriacea {T. crassicornis). 



Tlie rocks in the area explored consist mainly of slates, grits, and 

 conglomerate ; there is some sand in the bays, and a large area of 

 it at the Eiver Avon. With the exception of Hope Cove, the whole 

 region is very storm-swept. 



The chief peculiarity of the district is that, with the exception of 

 A. equina, A. sulcata, and S. sphyrodeta (occasionally in very sheltered 

 angles and hollows), all the species have their habitat under fixed 

 stones. It is practically useless to look for them under any stone which 

 is easily moved, and usually it is a matter of careful observation 

 to decide the most likely spots, to then remove some stone less firmly 

 fixed than the rest, loosen and remove others, until finally the lower 

 layers are reached ; there, fixed and sheltered from stormy seas and 

 moving stones, will be found such anemones as inhabit this coast. 

 I ascribe this habit of life to the attrition of much coarse grit and 

 shingle, which is to be found in almost every pool. A result of this 

 enforced hidden existence is that the individuals are smaller than 

 usual, and the pigmentation weaker. Particularly is this the case in the 

 various species of Sagartia, tending in many instances to the oblitera- 

 tion or disappearance of typical markings, rendering a clear separation 

 of the various species and varieties a matter of some difhculty. 



Actinia equina. This species is neither very abundant nor large in 

 the area examined, with the exception of the remarkable variety 

 fragacea. This, though never common, occurs in most places and 

 always of large size, and I can bear out all that Gosse states regarding 

 this variety (see p. 177). The handsome colouration, large size, absence 

 of the blue basal line, and in this area different distribution — (it is 



