TRIBE!. ASTR^ACEA. 151 



coalescing by their sides with only the apex free ; a few tubulate 

 pores over the surface. 



Plate 5, fig. 39, animal natural size ; a, under surface of exterior 

 tentacular appendages; b, upper view of disk. 



Harbour of Rio> de Janeiro. Exp. Exp. 



This splendid species has a flesh-red exterior, shading into orange 

 above, and finally into a rich purple directly beneath the disk. The 

 inner tentacles resemble those of the common Actinise. The ex- 

 ternal tentacular appendage extends around the summit of the animal 

 like a ruffle or fringe, and consists of about fifty spatulate divisions, 

 the margins of which are ornamented with numerous short frondes- 

 cent lobes and tufts. These divisions adhere to one another to within 

 rather more than a fourth of an inch from the extremity, and here, 

 between each, there is an irregular indentation. Small tubular orifices 

 are irregularly scattered over the surface of these lobes, which are for 

 the most part surrounded by short mossy foliations. While the upper 

 surface is nearly flat, the under surface of each division is convex, 

 and over it are scattered small tubercle-like projections, apparently 

 corresponding to the orifices above. This tentacular fringe is capable 

 of great dilatation and contraction, the diameter varying at different 

 times from two to four inches. Sometimes it is elevated nearly per- 

 pendicularly, and the summit has the shape of a cup or goblet; again 

 it curves inward and nearly conceals the disk ; again the fringe like 

 the richest embroidery hangs gracefully drooping from the margin. 



The foot or base of the animal is a bright vermilion, and the same 

 colour is diffused in fine dots over the body on a light yellow ground, 

 besides forming vertical lines or stripes of rather indistinct outline. 

 These lines are continued into the crenatures or small prominences 

 that margin the base, and the bottom of the base itself is radiately 

 striated to correspond with the same. The upper surface of the ten- 

 tacular fringe has the lobes alternately dark olive-green and brownish, 

 clouded with a light ash tint. The disk is marked with alternate 

 stripes of orange and brown radiating from the mouth to the tentacles, 

 where these colours pass into a pale dull red : this shade charac- 

 terizes the tentacles, which are also marked with ashy ocellations near 

 their base, and sometimes near half way to their tips. 



This species adheres to stones like other Actinids, but is found 

 covered with sand, with its disk expanded just level with the surface. 



