364 THE MICROSCOPE. 



Actinice, under the names of A. troglodytes (the Cave- 

 dweller), A. viduata, and A. anguicoma (the Snaky-locked) . 

 Mr. Gosse, in his Devonshire Coast, makes A. viduata 

 synonymous with A. anguicoma; and gives a drawing and 

 a description of an anemone which he calls anguicoma, 

 and which closely resembles undoubted specimens of 

 Johnston's A. troglodytes. Many objections might be 

 taken to Mr. Gosse's description of species, which he makes 

 out from the number of their tentacles, although found in 

 company with each other, and, as he justly remarks, are of 

 " the same size and form." The following are at the pre- 

 sent time said to be distinct species : 



GROUP I. Skin smooth ; a row of beads on the oral 

 disc, close to the margin of the body, which contain " spike 

 cases." 



1. Actinia mesembryanthemum (the Common sea-ane- 

 mone). Striped with pea-green on an apple-green 

 ground. 



2. Actinia fragacea (the Strawberry anemone). Skin 

 soft, spotted with green on a liver-coloured ground. 



3. Actinia margaritif&ra, (the Pearly anemone). Skin 

 leathery, beads ultra-marine. 



GROUP II. Skin covered with numerous conical, large, 

 coloured, perforated warts. 



1. Actinia gemmacea (the Gem). Warts arranged in 

 vertical rows, six or more of which contain larger and 

 whiter warts than the rest. 



2. Actinia clavata (the Weymouth anemone). Warts 

 arranged in vertical rows, and all equal. 



3. Actinia coriacea (the Thick-skinned anemone). 

 Warts irregularly arranged ; varieties numberless. 



GROUP III. Warts flattened, and on the upper portion 

 of the body only ; white threads sent out from invisible 

 pores, and containing spike-cases. 



1. Actinia bellis (the Daisy). Disc flat, two or three 

 times as broad as the body, when the latter is at all length- 

 ened ; tentacles very numerous, small, and crowded hori- 

 zontally on the outer edge of the disc. 



2. Actinia troglodytes (the Cave-dweller). Tentacles 

 erect, few, taper, barred at their base with a dark ring, 

 containing a white heart-shaped mark. Habit : hides under 



