304 Mr. R. Kyle on a p'ohohly new Species 0/ Actinia. 



XXXI. — On a ])i'ohably new Species o/" Actinia. 



To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, 



I am anxious to call the attention of collectors of sea- 

 anemones and keepers of aquariums to a very handsome 

 variety of Tealia which occurs in considerable quantities in 

 deep water along this coast, with but few variations in ap- 

 pearance. It seems to be either a new species or at least a 

 good local variety. It is not noticed in Mr. Gosse's work on 

 British Sea- Anemones, and is the only deep-sea Actinia which 

 I have seen in these waters. I got it from the hooks of the 

 fishermen's deep-sea cod-lines, sometimes two or three at a 

 time on one stone. My observations have been made this 

 winter on a large number of specimens, some of which have 

 been kept in my tanks for two or three months. I should be 

 happy to forward specimens for inspection if requested to do 

 so. Mr. Gosse, to whom I sent a description, suggests, " It 

 is pretty certain to be either a new species or at least a well- 

 marked local variety worth describing." So I send the fol- 

 lowing description to you, and am 



Your obedient Servant, 

 Portrush, co. Antrim, Ireland. ROBEET Kyle 



March 7, 1872. 



Form. 



Base adherent to old shells or stones, not exceeding column j 

 disk and tentacles similar in shape to those of Tealia cras- 

 sicornis ; but the column is destitute of warts, except on 

 the upper portion, on which they are very few and small, 

 and is smooth and soft. 



Colour. 



Column brilliant scarlet and yellow, similar to " Stomphia 



ChurcMce " (Gosse, pi. viii. fig. 5). 

 Disk very pale reddish brown or buff; radial hands few (or 



wanting), inconspicuous, white. 

 Tentacles pellucid, pale pink, with opaque white bands. 



Varieties. 

 ct. Above condition. 

 ^. Column crimson and drab. 



Tentacles crimson-red, with huffish bands ; radial hands 

 very conspicuous, crimson. (A very showy variety.) 

 7. Column and tentacles plain red-orange or scarlet; radial 

 hands white, or wanting. 



