ACTINIAD.E: CORYNACTIS. 205 



mis being multiples of four, is important, as supporting the notion 

 that four is the typical or dominant number of the Actiniadce, per- 

 haps of all Zoophytes." 



28. CORYNACTIS,* G. J. Allman. 



CHARACTER. " Body subcylindrical but very mutable in 

 figure, adhering by an expanded base : Tentacula tubular, with 

 spherical and imperforate capitula, contractile surrounding the 

 mouth in one or more concentric series" G. J. Allinan. 



1. C. VIRIDIS. G. J. Allman.f 



PLATE XXXV. FIG. 10, 11. 



Corynactis viridis, Allman in Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xvii. 417, pi. 11. 



Hob. Near low-water mark, in the pools left by the retiring tide, 

 at Crook Haven, co. Cork, G. J. Allman. Coast of Cornwall, G. W. 

 Peach. 



" This beautiful little zoophyte measures nearly half an inch 

 across the tentacular disc, which, as well as the body, is of a bright 

 grass-green, with the exception of a circle of radiating brown strise 

 which surround the mouth at a short distance from its margin. 

 The tentacula are short, with the stems of a sienna colour, and the 

 capitate extremities of a bright rose colour. Those tentacula which 

 lie near the margin of the disc are arranged in two regular con- 

 centric circles, and are succeeded towards the mouth by others, 

 which are for the most part smaller, and present a more scattered 

 disposition. 



" There is a variety by no means uncommon, in which the green 

 colour, except in a narrow ring at the upper margin of the body, is 

 entirely replaced by a light flesh-colour. In this variety the animal 

 becomes so translucent that the septa and vermiform filaments may 

 often be distinguished through the integuments ; it is an evident 

 example of albinism. 



" So exceedingly mutable is Corynactis viridis, perpetually exhi- 



* From xo^uvw, a club, and axnv, a ray. 



t George James Allman, Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin, and a 

 member of the naturalist-family of Irishmen, who, richly endowed with a love of 

 Science, are prosecuting her with characteristic ardour, and loading the favourite with 

 presents rare, new, and valuable. This family of " co-operating advancers" count 

 me for a relative : so I conclude, because of the liberality with which they have con- 

 tributed to my wants. 



