ACTINIA. 255 
diameter, but when expanded it is five inches in height and 
four in diameter. Sir J. G. Dalyell says that a good speci- 
men, expanded, is six inches in height and five in diameter. 
He prefers the name 4. plumosa, which certainly is very 
descriptive, and remarks, “ Of all the Actimie inhabiting the 
Scottish seas, this species is probably the largest, and cer- 
tainly it is the most beautiful.” The tentacula are very 
numerous, and form a dense fringe of singular beauty. To 
be convinced that it is more than entitled to all that is said 
of its elegance and beauty, a person has only to look at the 
splendid figure given of it by Sir J. G. Dalyell, in plate xlix. 
Dr. Johnston states that it is of a uniform white, olive, 
cream, or flesh colour. Sir J. G. Dalyell says, “‘ Remarkable 
diversity of colour is incident to it. It occurs of snowy 
white, of peach-blossom, lemon-yellow, orpiment-orange, 
and the like; but it is equally beautiful under every hue.” 
In Sir John’s magnificent figure already referred to, the 
body is reddish-brown, the mouth orange, the disc lilac, 
and the gorgeous plumes a mixture of yellow and white. 
We have repeatedly found it in the west of Scot- 
land, but the specimens were always milk-white. The 
first time I saw it was at Millport, in the island of Cum- 
brae. Observing, from the deck of a steamer, three or 
