230 ANTHOZOA HELIANTHOIDA. 



the body of the polypus is concealed, the expanded cup-like head 

 alone being visible above the margin of the fissure. The body is 

 often lengthened to the extent of two inches ; its basis is contracted, 

 but gradually widens upwards towards the calyx ; the lower portion 

 of it is nearly colourless, higher up it becomes of a flesh colour, this 

 changing into a greenish brown, of which it continues up as far as 

 the feelers. The upper half of the body is covered with numerous 

 small white glands, which possess great powers of suction. The 

 diameter of the calyx, which is somewhat cupped, in the larger 

 specimens often exceeds two inches ; its margin does not describe a 

 perfect circle, but is variously festooned. The colour of the disc is 

 dark brown, ornamented with broad bands of opaque white, and 

 finely streaked and dotted with light yellow. The feelers are very 

 small, placed on the edge of the calyx in several rows, to the depth 

 of one-third of an inch ; those nearest the disc, also, are about one- 

 third of an inch in length, and are the longest, the outermost tenta- 

 cula being but little more than papillae ; they are of a lighter brown 

 than the disc, and are variegated with transverse bands and spots of 

 white. The shades of brown in the different parts of each Actinia 

 vary considerably with the specimens. 



" Found in a clear pool, opposite Dalkey Island, but little below 

 high-water mark, the only locality in which I have ever met with 

 it ; and what is not a little peculiar is, that it is confined to that one 

 pool, although there are others in its immediate vicinity apparently 

 equally suitable for it." A. If. Hassall. 



Mr. Cocks remarks, on Gaertner's figures, that they are sketched 

 from a specimen deprived of liberty and its regular supply of water : 

 the first figure represents the body elongated and the tentaculiferous 

 disc expanded, a- very common state of this species in confinement, when 

 the outer rows of tentacula are frequently found horizontally placed, 

 while those of the innermost row are in nine cases out of ten held 

 erect : in Gsertner's second figure the disc is partially contracted, 

 with fragments of shells and sand attached to the aperture, as it is 

 found commonly on the sea-shore, but the extraneous gravel is soon 

 cast off in confinement. The species is in fact very Protean, and 

 within the space of an hour will assume a great variety of shapes, 

 some of which are shown in the annexed wood-cut (fig. 52), selected 

 from a series of drawings sent me by Mr. Cocks. Under every shape, 

 however, the species seems to be readily distinguishable by the lobed 

 or festooned margin of the disc, the tubercular state of the superior 

 half of the body, and the arrangement of its very numerous tentacula. 



