THE TRUMPLET. 
155 
favoured me, I perceive that these lines -were not equidistant 
and symmetrical, hut all close together on one side ; a cir- 
cumstance which at once shows their presence to have been 
accidental, and of no value as a character, while in every 
other respect, even in the most minute points, his drawing 
and description agi'ce with my specimens. 
At the same time it is interesting to observe that 
Mr. Cocks did not consider his specimens as the A. hise- 
rialis ; for he describes this separately in the same list, as 
“ not uncommon.” 
Mr. S. Whitchurch, of Guernsey, informs me also that 
there exist at Herm Actinias, which are commonly spoken 
of as “ the yellow and blue varieties of A. hiserialis,'^ so 
that a species may yet turn up which will justify the 
description of that form ; and at all events it would be 
rash at present to accuse so excellent a zoologist as 
E. Forbes of incorrectness, on the known premises. 
The present species seems to be found in considerable 
abundance in its recognised localities, especially Guernsey 
and the contiguous little isle of Herm ; appearing chiefly to 
afiect the under sides of loose stones at the level of lowest 
tide, to which it adheres with a very slight attachment. 
When the animal has been some time deprived of water, 
— as in transmission by post, — it has a very abject appear- 
ance, shrivelled almost to shreds of blackisli membrane, 
which, when immersed in sea-water, lie helplessly on the 
bottom, ragged and hideous, discharging brown pigment. 
Presently the tentacles begin to fill, and one by one to 
assume plumpness, and to move slowly; and gradually, after 
some hours, the animal presents a more life-like appearance. 
The extremities of the tentacles remain collapsed, and 
apparently withered, long after the greater part of their 
length has become plump, the divi.sion between the one and 
the other condition being abrupt. The distension begins 
