COMPAKATIVE ANATOMY OF SOME BRITISH ACTINI/E. 551 



regards two species as belonging to this genus, namely A. heterocera and 

 A. regalis. A. regalis and A. augusta, Gosse 1860 and Andres 1880, are 

 given as synonyms. Andres in a note states that he found the number 

 of tentacles to agree with that in Gosse's specimen. Since colour is too 

 unreliable a character on which to base species and since the comparative 

 anatomy of A. augusta, A. regalis, and A. heterocera still remains ap- 

 parently unknown, it seems necessary to retain the name regalis (Andres) 

 for the present, at the same time keeping in mind the possibility of 

 this name being merely a synonym of A. augusta (Gosse). The name 

 regalis is used in France, from which coast the specimen referred to 

 here was obtained. Figs. 4, 5 and 6, in Plate X in L'Attinie, give 

 an exact reproduction of the form and colour of the specimen when 

 alive. 



The following is a translation of Andres' description : — 



" Form : Base adhering ; spreading, irregular. Column conical below, 

 cylindrical above, smooth, fleshy, not greatly extensible, secreting 

 abundant mucus to form a sheath. Margin turning upwards, minutely 

 crenate, collar deeply grooved. Disk small, smooth. Tentacles retractile, 

 numerous (144) in four cycles (36+36+36+36). [The tentacles may 

 be more than 144 in number ; in one specimen I found 168 (42+42 + 

 42+42) as in A. augusta (Gosse).] Each tentacle is short, moniliform 

 and directed outwards. They occupy more than half the periphery of 

 the disk. The form, " monile " (resembling a necklace), is modified in 

 the tentacles of the two external cycles, the swellings are unequal, the 

 proximal is rounded and the apical is prolonged to a point. The peristome 

 is smooth, scarcely striated at the radii. Mouth round, small, not 

 prominent. 



" Colour pale rose. Column orange-vermilion with whitish specks. 

 Tentacles of indefinite yellowish colour, transparent with opaque stains 

 and spots. Peristome reddish vermilion. Of the gonidial radii only 

 one is indicated, and this has a whitish line where the radius touches the 

 periphery. Situation in the sand usually covered as far as the disk, but 

 sometimes protruding with part of the column." 



Andres examined three individuals, two coincided with the above 

 description, but the third had the peristome spotted. 



I took the following measurements from the preserved specimen : — 



Diameter of base = 17 mm. 



Height of column = 18 mm. 



Diameter of oval disk greatly contracted =9 mm. 



