206 ANTHOZOA HELIANTHOIDA. 



biting some new and strange form, according to the state of con- 

 traction in which it may happen to present itself, that all attempt 

 to limit its figure in description would be vain. At one time it will 

 assume the appearance of a narrow cylindrical stem fixed by one 

 extremity, and bearing on the opposite a flattened circular disc at- 

 tached to the stem like the blade of a peltate-leaf to its petiole ; 

 sometimes a contraction will occur in the centre of the body, so as 

 to cause the animal to present somewhat the appearance of an 

 hour-glass ; again, the central part of the tentacular disc will be 

 forced forward into a conical projection, bearing the two outer 

 circles of tentacula around the margin of its base, and with the 

 mouth elevated upon its apex. This occurs without any eversion 

 of the stomach. In short, the strange shapes assumed by this pro- 

 tean polyp are innumerable, and altogether beyond the domain of 

 description. 



" Corynactis viridis is a charming little animal, and by no means 

 rare in the locality where I discovered it ; the brilliancy of its 

 colours and the great elegance of its tentacular crown when fully 

 expanded, render it eminently attractive ; hundreds may often be 

 seen in a single pool, and few sights will be retained with greater 

 pleasure by the naturalist than that presented by these little zoo- 

 phytes, as they spread abroad their green and rosy crowns amid the 

 algae and millepores and plumy corals, co-tenants of their rocky 

 vases." G. J. Allman. 



Mr. Peach's specimens were " all yellowish at the upper part and 

 flesh-colour and faintly striped to the foot, some a deeper red," the 

 mouth very light flesh-colour, and the peristomatous space light 

 yellow, " the divisions being shown by fine lines of bright yellow." 

 The animals assumed various shapes, but their favourite position 

 was to hang from the rock when in the form of the daisy. Slow in 

 their motions, and not very irritable, they soon opened after being 

 touched ; and in other respects their habits were those of their 

 family, except in being more tender, for they could not be kept alive 

 longer than two or three days, although constantly supplied with 

 fresh sea-water. 



The Actinia iris of Muller, Zool. Dan. iii. 3, tab. 82, fig. 5, 6, ap- 

 pears to be related to Corynactis. 



