ACTINIAD^E. 365 



stones ; body irregularly flattened when in a state of con- 

 traction. 



3. Actinia anguicoma or viduata (the Snake-locked ane- 

 mone). Tentacles few, very long, taper, and flexible ; two 

 vertical streaks down each tentacle. Habit : alternately 

 very flat and columnar. 



4. Actinia rosea (the Rosy anemone). Tentacles few, 

 rosy red ; mouth, a cross of four rounded lobes. 



5. Actinia Candida (the White anemone). Tentacles 

 graduated, those of the inner row being the largest, opaque 

 snowy white ; inner row of tentacles ringed with dark red 

 or brown ; body and disc white. 



6. Actinia dianthus (the Plumose anemone). Margin 

 of the disc fringed with numerous small tentacles, and 

 much ]obed ; tentacles many, graduated ; body from one 

 to five inches in diameter. 



7. Actinia parasitica (the Parasitic anemone). Outer 

 tentacles smaller, and turned downwards over the rim of 

 the disc ; tentacles about 500, and graduated ; body about 

 two inches in diameter, and three in height, of a yellowish 

 white, ribbed vertically with dark brown. Habit para- 

 sitic, chiefly on shells. 



8. Actinia aurora (the Orange-tentacled anemone). 

 Outer tentacles smaller, and turned downwards ; tentacles 

 about 80 in number, tinged with orange ; body half an 

 inch in diameter, of brown or olive-green colour, lined 

 with vertical bands of white. 



9. Actinia venwtra (the Orange-disced anemone). 

 Outer row of tentacles smaller than the rest, and turned 

 downwards ; tentacles about 250, graduated, white ; body, 

 half an inch in diameter, orange-brown ; disc oval, of a 

 bright-orange colour ; base oval. 1 



The Actinice are more familiarly known by the name 

 of Sea-anemones, or Animal flowers. In their appetites 

 they are voracious, and seize the numerous little inhabitants 

 of the sandy shores. Dr. Johnston says : " I had once 

 brought me a specimen of Actinia gemmacea, that might 

 have been originally two inches in diameter, and that had 

 somehow contrived to swallow a valve of Pecten maximus, 

 of the size of an ordinary saucer. The shell, fixed within 



(1) Mr. Tugwell's Manual of Sea-Anemones. 



