TRIBE I. ASTR J& ACE A. 127 



Plate 1, fig. 1. Animal, natural size; a, the same, with part of the 

 tentacles removed showing the disk ; b, c, d, extremities of the inner, 

 middle, and outer tentacles, respectively, magnified about three dia- 

 meters, from drawings by J. P. Couthouy ; e, tentacles of another 

 variety. 



t 



On rocks near Funchal and Camera de Lobos, Madeira. Ex. Ex. 



" Of an amber-brown colour; very contractile; when the animal is 

 fully expanded, almost flat, and base irregularly lobed; three rows of 

 tentacles of a delicate pea-green colour, two to three inches long, with 

 the extremities of a beautiful lake colour, the inner row (5), under the 

 microscope very delicately granulated, and furnished with a short 

 fibrous penicillation at the ends, which the animal apparently with- 

 draws or protrudes at pleasure, the middle row having the termina- 

 tions gradually tapering and smooth, and the external row strongly 

 marked with transverse striae or rugae, and pointed at tip. A single 

 range of tubercles surrounds the upper edge of the disk outside of the 

 tentacles. The mouth is elliptical, usually a little elevated, giving 

 the appearance of a flat truncate cone to the upper surface, which is 

 of a delicate purple, with lines radiating to the tentacles. The tenta- 

 cles are never wholly contracted. 



" A singular feature in the economy of this zoophyte, and one 

 which, in connexion with the peculiar structure of its tentacles, might 

 justify the formation of a new genus for it, is the remarkable pecu- 

 liarity it exhibits of closing upon every object presented. On attempt- 

 ing to detach one from the rock, I was astonished to find that instead 

 of contracting at the touch like the generality of Actiniae, its tentacles 

 immediately closed upon my fingers, adhering to them as if furnished 

 with suckers; and this so strongly, that these organs were broken 

 off remaining on the hand before relinquishing their hold. Sub- 

 sequent attempts were made with the same results, and after con- 

 tinued irritation, the animal, in no instance, could be made wholly to 

 contract them. A slight stinging sensation was produced by much 

 handling them. Several specimens were taken on board and placed 

 in a jar of water, but died in a short time, notwithstanding the water 

 was frequently changed. After the first day, they lost nearly all 

 their power of adhesion by the tentacles, and never fully expanded, 

 although they fixed themselves very firmly by their base. They 

 possess, like many of the family, a limited power of locomotion by 



