138 SOME ASOJDIANS FROM THE ISLE OP WIGHT. 



It is now a truism that variation does not only consist in the 

 manifestation of irregular abnormalities. The commonest Anemone 

 of our sea-coasts, Actinia equina, Linn., sufficiently testifies to 

 the existence of a fixity and a stability even in variation. Yet 

 it would be a strange misconception of the species-idea that would 

 lead anyone to specifically separate the more constant varieties of 

 Actinia equina or of Cylista vndata from one another simply on the 

 ground of that constancy. 



The nomen triviale of taxonomy is a great boon to the investigator 

 in biology, but it becomes a burden when it is applied with random 

 pen to every little group of forms, distinguished though they may 

 be, under their particular conditions, by the constaut possession of 

 some minute peculiarity. Minute and constant peculiarities are of 

 the greatest interest and importance, and nothing could be, for some 

 time to come, of higher value to the student of organic evolution 

 than their careful recognition and classification, involving also a 

 similar record of the bionomical conditions under which those 

 peculiarities are found to be manifested. 



But there is no reason why the specific name should be bestowed 

 upon these minutely isolated groups. They had much rather have 

 a nomenclature of their own within the limits of the species embrac- 

 ing them ; and that such a nomenclature can be adopted with success 

 is sufficiently established by a perusal of Mr. Gosse's admirable 

 monograph of the British Actinians, — to go no further. 



I will conclude with an attempt, by way of illustration, to record 

 what seem to be the main outlines of variability in the species 

 which has just been discussed. 



AsciDiA MENTULA, 0. F. MulUr. 



Var. 1. — lluBERElMA. Body-walls beneath the test of a brilliant red or rose-colour ; 

 tentacles (always ?) numerous (60 to 80). 



Form a. — Erecta. Area of attachment small, usually posterior 

 and basal ; infra-littoral. 



Disiribuiion. — Off the south const of Norway; 

 Mediterranean, off Marseille and Naples, rare iu 

 Adriatic {= A. riihescens. Heller). 

 Form /3. — Depressa. Area of attachment large, extending over 

 the whole or the greater part of the left side; littoral. 

 Distribution, — West coast of Scotland, west and 

 north-east coasts of Ireland {= A. rubicunda, 

 Hancock). 

 Var. 2. — RUBROTINCTA, Body-walls tinged with reddish flesh-colour. 



Form a. — Erecta. Attached as described above; infra-littoral. 

 Naples, Marseille, British seas ? 



