ASTR^ACEA. 
BUNODIBM. 
THE GAPELET. 
StompMa Churchim. 
Plate VIII, Fig. 5. 
Specific Character. Body dashed with scarlet on white or yellow ; ten- 
tacles white, with scarlet bands. 
Stomphia Churchiee. OossE, Ann. Nat. Hist. Ser. 3, iii. 48. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 
Form. 
Base. Adherent to rocks in deep water, expansile considerably beyond 
the column. 
Column. Very protean in shape, generally a short thick pillar, sometimes 
constricted hourglass fashion or like a dice-box ; the base sometimes 
detaches itself, and becomes very concave with sharp edges, or, on the 
other hand, protrudes as a low cone. Skin much and irregularly cor- 
rugated transversely, and also longitudinally from the margin a little way 
downwards, thus giving a decussate appearance to the upper liortion. 
Margin distinct, but without parapet or fosse, the outer tentacles springing 
from the very edge. Substance pulpy, or softly fleshy, very lax. 
Dish. Flat, but often protruded as a low cone ; radii well marked. 
Tentacles. About 60, arranged in four rows, viz. 6, 6, 12, 36; sub-equal, 
the inner slightly longer than the outer, conical, much corrugated in con- 
traction ; when expanded, about equal in length to half the diameter of 
the disk ; generally carried horizontally spreading, or descending with the 
tips slightly up-curving. 
Mouth. Often widely opened. Lip sharp, protrusile, forming a narrow, 
low, circular wall. 
Colour. 
Column. Cream-white deepening to positive yellow, most irregularly 
sprinkled with dashes and streaks of rich scarlet, very much like a flaked 
carnation. 
