TRIBE I. ASTR^ACEA. 129 



inch), very prominent, with six lobes within : animal, when con- 

 tracted, of a cylindrico-hemispherical form. 



Plate 1, fig. 2, animal, expanded, natural size; a, a view of the 

 mouth and disk ; b, animal contracted. 



t 

 Common on rocks at low tide off Praya Grande fort, Rio de Janeiro. 



Prevailing colour, of body, bronze ; a line of dark ochreous red on 

 upper edge of disk and outside of the tentacles ; tentacles, dull pale 

 yellow, approaching to ochre; rudimentary tentacles with tips white; 

 mouth reddish-brown, interrupted by a ring of green, and terminating 

 in a white orifice, the inner edge of which is marked with a bright 

 vermilion hue ; disk, from base of tentacles to mouth, olive-green. 

 J. DRAYTON. 



" The contracted animal resembles the upper half of a fig. When 

 expanded, the disk is sometimes three inches in diameter, and the 

 whole exterior surface has a pustular appearance. The base is divided 

 into numerous protuberant small lobes, and dilates very much at 

 times. The upper margin of the animal just exterior to the tentacles 

 is coarsely beaded, and surrounded by a range of short rudimentary 

 tentacles, with white tips and ochreous base. The mouth is very 

 protuberant, and the oblong opening is rendered sexpartite by as 

 many deep rugae : this was constant in some fifty species, examined. 

 When fully expanded, the disk is spread out like a broad rim beyond 

 the body, and the base dilated in like manner. The colours of this 

 Actinia are very variable, but the prevailing hue appeared to be a 

 very deep olive-green for the body. Some individuals had the body 

 of a crimson or purple colour, and the tentacles a deep green ; others, 

 the body a light brown, and the tentacles bright red with yellow 

 cloudings. In many places they were grouped together in clusters 

 of hundreds, and through the clear water, when calm, they presented 

 the appearance of beds of submarine flowers, whose depth and bril- 

 liancy of colour of innumerable shades, are not surpassed by any of 

 the flowers of the land." J. P. COUTHOUY. 



3. ACTINIA VERATRA. (Drayton.) 



A. extus papillosa, medio 2J" crassa, infra supraque valde (3|") dila- 

 tata, basis margine undulata, margine superno uniseriatim tubercu- 



33 



