VARIETIES OF ACTINLE. 197 



disk is covered by several hundred tentacula 

 disposed in separate circles round the centre, 

 from the outside of the disk to near its centre. 

 These tentacula point outwards to the circum- 

 ference of the circle, with the exception of those 

 forming the inner ring, which are elevated more 

 or less from the plane of the disk. These nu- 

 merous feelers exhibit great variety of hue. In 

 some they are dark brown, yellowish, ornamented 

 with white spots, while the disk itself is tinted 

 with grey, lilac, white, and is sometimes dark 

 brown with scarlet lines diverging from the 

 centre. This species is exceedingly like a beau- 

 tiful flower. 



Another remarkable kind is the Actinia 

 geinmacea. It derives its name from the circum- 

 stance that it has its stalk or body marked with 

 tubercles like gems, reaching from the base to 

 the top. When contracted, it assumes the form 

 of a bell with the mouth downwards, and the 

 gem-like rows of tubercles converge in an elegant 

 manner from the base to the closed aperture of 

 the mouth. The body is of a beautiful rose 

 colour. The rows of tubercles are alternately 

 white and grey, the disk when expanded is varie- 

 gated with different hues, green, white, scarlet, 

 black, while the tentacles are of a fine blue colour 

 and add much to the beauty of this " gem of the 

 sea." The actiniae, although almost invariably 

 found attached by their bases to the rocks, are 

 understood by naturalists to be able to remove 

 from one station to another. Their food consists 

 o 3 



