138 SAGARTIAD^. 



In both this and the preceding genus we find a remark- 

 able development of the epidermic layer ; in Adamsia from 

 the base, to enlarge its support, — in Phellia from the 

 column, to thicken its investing coat. 



The investment is, as I have intimated, a tightly-adhering 

 epidermic layer, but free at the upper part, which stands 

 up as a thin, clear, firm tube, when the animal retreats. Its 

 substance is strong and tenacious, yet portions of it can 

 be torn away in shreds with a needle. These, under 

 a power of 600 diameters, show, in the clear parts, a 

 structureless membrane, which has a slightly fibrous 

 appearance, apparently only because of its foldings and 

 wrinkles. The greater part is rendered opaque by the 

 foreign matters entangled in it, consisting largely of irre- 



" Anemone" throughout, employing an epithet to discriminate the families 

 from each other, a second epithet to discriminate the genera of each 

 family, and a third epithet for each species? "The Anemone:" "the 

 Warty Anemone :" "the Lined Warty Anemone :" "the Glaucous Lined 

 Warty Anemone." This would be an available mode, but would it not be 

 repulsive and lumbering? Again, I might make new words — arbitrary 

 aggregations of vowels and consonants, — " Farson," " Toler," — words, if 

 words they might be called, without an etymology, and without a meaning. 

 I do not think this would be generally acceptable, though I might plead 

 precedent in scientific technology, — " Rocinela," " Conilera," &c. for 

 example. 



A celebrated Greek orator is said to have coined only three words in the 

 whole course of his professional eloquence ; and, for the comfort of those 

 who should attempt the same again, it is added that the Athenian public 

 refused to swallow these. Yet it is much easier to make a Greek word 

 than an English one. I manufacture " Aiptasia'' and "Bolocera" boldly; 

 yet it is not without mistrust that I see " Trumplet" and " Opelet" on my 



In this dilemma, since the words must be made, I have thought that 

 they ought to be formed according to certain conditions. First, they 

 should be Saxon : " Ilyanth," " Lucernary," " Cyathine," are no more 

 English than if they retained their classical terminations. Secondly, they 

 should be significant : the new word should aid the memory, not tax it. 

 Thirdly, they should be consimilar in structure, since they are intended to 

 designate consimilar objects. Fourthly, they should not, if possible, 

 exceed a dissyllabic length. 



According to these rules, I have ventured to construct a series of verna- 

 cular names for the genera. Allowing " Anemone" to stand for Sagartia, 

 I have formed for each of the others a dissyllable, Saxon in origin, sug- 

 gestive of some prominent character, and having a common termination, 

 — viz. the English diminutive " -let," from lie, little. In accordance with 

 this plan, Plumelet may stand as the English representative of Actinohba, 

 and Cloaklet of Adamsia. 



