126 



LUCERNARI.E. 



others remain unnoticed. Many have as yet been seen 

 in only one locality ; the history of others is very im- 

 perfectly known ; and accurate drawings of several kinds 

 are wanting : there is, therefore, still open a most inte- 

 resting field to the observer of these beautiful creatures. 

 Among their allies is a particularly elegant species, 

 often found adhering to the smaller sea-weeds in rock- 

 pools. With the general aspect of an Actinia, it differs 

 in having a bell-shaped body, raised on a narrow stalk, 

 and in having its tentacula 

 collected in tufts at regular 

 distances round the margin. 

 These differences are suffi- 

 cient to mark a generic 

 group, which is called Lu- 

 cernaria, and of which three 

 species have been found on 

 the British coast. The most 

 common is distinguished by 

 having a marginal tubercle 



LCOEKUABIA AUKICULA. ^ ^6 C6ntr6 Of the SpaCB 



between each tuft of tenta- 

 cles. Its body is clear as crystal, and coloured variously 

 in different specimens, being sometimes green, some- 

 times red, and sporting into various other tints. When 

 it desires to shift its quarters, it can detach itself at 

 will from the object to which it adheres, and swim, with 

 considerable quickness, to a new position, by alternately 

 expanding and contracting its body. 



All the Polypes we have yet spoken of belong to the 

 class A nthozoa ; but we must remember that there is 



