24 SAGARTIAD^E. 



Perhaps the most magnificent Actinia known is A. Pau- 

 motensts, described and figured in Dana's " Zoophytes." It 

 was found at the Isle of Raraka, in the Paumotu group, by 

 the naturalists attached to the American Exploring Expe- 

 dition. It is twelve inches in diameter of disk, which is 

 deeply frilled. 



A. reticulata, from Terra del Fuego, is another fine and 

 richly coloured species ; with a frilled disk, and tentacles 

 very numerous and fringe-like. Both these must doubtless 

 be assigned to the genus Actinoloba. 



A. Achates, a species dredged by the same Expedition, in 

 thirty fathoms, on the east coast of Patagonia, has the 

 frilled character of dianthus, with but three rows of ten- 

 tacles, which are not specially crowded. It is evidently 

 intermediate between dianthus and hellis ; but further 

 examination is necessary to determine to which genus it 

 rightly belongs. 



I may, however, venture to exhibit the affinities of our 

 Anemone in the following gradation ; distinguishing exotic 

 species by [ ] : — 



[Paumotensis.] 

 [reticulata.] 

 DIANTHUS. 



[Achates.] 

 bellis. 



