OCEAN LIFE. 17 



which is either cartilaginous or calcareous. (The polypi have the 

 general characteristics of Alcyonia). 



The Renilla Americana, resembles a thick reniform leaf, with 

 a short pedicle. In the contracted state, the upper surface is 

 sprinkled with minute white dots and larger sub-stellate spots, 

 about three-fourths of a line in diameter. The former, under 

 the microscope, consist of eight points, and are probably young 

 budding polypes ; the larger are adult polypes and are about a 

 line apart. The general surface is fitted with minute calcareous 

 spicula, seen only under a magnifier. Below, the zoophyte is 

 venously striate, and the caudal appendage is longitudinally sul- 

 cate and transversely fine rugate. 



ACTINIADJE .(Sea Anemones.} 



" A SEA anemone, is a radiate animal, or actiniform polype. 

 Character. Animal single, fleshy, elongate or conical, capable of 

 extending or contracting itself, fixed by its base, but with the 

 power of locomotion. Mouth, in the middle of the upper disc, 

 very dilatable, surrounded by one or more rows of tentacula. 

 Oviparous and viviparous ; marine." A sea anemone is a heliah- 

 thoid or sun-flower shaped polype. " This family of polypes, 

 from the fibrous character which the substance of their body as- 

 sumes, have been named by zoologists, ' Fleshy Polypes.' The 

 body of an Actinia, when moderately expanded, is a fleshy cylin- 

 der, attached by one extremity to a rock or some other sub-ma- 

 rine support ; whilst the opposite end is surmounted by numerous 

 tentacula, arranged in several rows around the oval aperture, 

 when these tentacula are expanded, they give the animal the 

 appearance of a flower, a resemblance which is rendered more 

 striking by the beautiful colors which they not unfrequently as- 

 sume ; and hence, in all countries, they have been looked upon 

 by the uninformed as sea-flowers, and distinguished by names 

 indicative of the fancied resemblance. Their animal nature is 

 soon, however, rendered evident, by a little attention, to their 

 habits. When expanded at the bottom of the shallow pools of 

 salt water left by the retreating tide, they are seen to manifest 

 3 



