ACTINIA. 239 
furnished with a projecting spiculum, situated under the 
skin, sometimes scattered over the whole body, and in other 
species confined apparently to the tentacula or even their tips. 
The poison secreted by them is very variable in its power, 
and this, it is probable, is owing to the different states 
of the animal at different seasons. From one of the Ray 
Society publications, we learn that Erdl has ascertained that 
the stinging organs of Actimi@ are much more active in 
spring, which is the breeding season. Dr. Johnston says, 
that he has handled our commoner Actinie without expe- 
riencing more than a slight heat in the fingers, scarcely suf- 
ficient to draw attention, but in Anthee he states that the 
activity of the poison is greater. From my own experience, 
T can say nothing as to this stinging power; for though I 
have handled not only the commoner Actinia, but also the 
larger and less common Anthea, I never felt, anything ap- 
proaching to stinging; but I never touched a tentaculum 
without perceiving the tip of it had some prehensile pro- 
perty, by which it took a slight hold of the skin of the fin- 
ger, causing a kind of rasping feeling when withdrawn. It 
may be, however, that the fangs had not fair play with my 
fingers, if somehow or other they are sting-proof. Quoting 
again from Mrs. Anne Pratt’s interesting ‘Sea-side Chapters ;’ 
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