THE, YELLOW IMPERIAL. 
287 
Wlicu a piece of meat was dropped on the open disk, 
it remained awhile apparently unnoticed; at length the 
animal slowly bent itself on one side, and the unwelcome 
morsel rolled across the tentacles and fell to the bottom. 
When Dr. E. P. Wright was on the south-west coast of 
Ireland, in July, 1858, he found, at Crookhaven, a small 
number of specimens of this species, agreeing with Mr. 
Thompson’s description in every particular, except their 
smaller size. He kindly sent me three, but they all died 
in transitu, from the length of the joiumey. Dr. Wright 
says “ it can assume an almost transparent appearance,” — 
which was not the case with the Weymouth specimens ; 
but which assimilates it to Corynactis. He observed also 
that the outer tentacles were reverted, so as actually to 
touch the rock, which gave it a strange aspect. 
The circles of tentacles resemble a coronet of pearls ; 
and searching for a name by which to distinguish the 
genus, I was reminded, by this peculiarity, of the diadem 
which was the distinctive badge of the Roman Augusti, and 
by the splendid colours of the animals, of the no less imperial 
gold and purple. I have therefore called it Aureliama, 
after him who of the Roman emperors first wore the 
diadem and the gold-embroidered purple.* The splendid 
appearance of the zoophytes, especially of the preceding 
species, must plead my apology for so presumptuous an 
appropriation. 
Weymouth, IF. T. (w.).- Crookhaven, E. P. W. 
augusta. 
IIETEROCERA. 
Corynactis. . 
* “ late primus [scil. Aureliauus], apucl Romauoa, diadeiua capiti 
iunexuit, gemmiaque et auratd omni veate, . . . uaua eat." (Aurel. 
Viet.) 
