THE TBUMPLET. 155 



favoured me, I perceive that these Hues were not equidistant 

 and symmetrical, but all close together on one side ; a cir- 

 cumstance which at once shows their presence to have been 

 accidental, and of no value as a character, while in every 

 other respect, even in the most minute points, his drawing 

 and description agree with my specimens. 



At the same time it is interesting to observe that 

 Mr. Cocks did not consider his specimens as the A. bise- 

 rialis ; for he describes this separately in the same list, as 

 " not uncommon." 



Mr. S. Whitchurch, of Guernsey, informs me also that 

 there exist at Herm Actiniae, which are commonly spoken 

 of as " the yellow and blue varieties of A. biserialis" so 

 that a species may yet turn up which will justify the 

 description of that form ; and at all events it would be 

 rash at present to accuse so excellent a zoologist as 

 E. Forbes of incorrectness, on the known premises. 



The present species seems to be found in considerable 

 abundance in its recognised localities, especially Guernsey 

 and the contiguous little isle of Herm ; appearing chiefly to 

 affect the under sides of loose stones at the level of lowest 

 tide, to which it adheres with a very slight attachment. 



When the animal has been some time deprived of water, 

 — as in transmission by post, — it has a very abject appear- 

 ance, shrivelled almost to shreds of blackish membrane, 

 which, when immersed in sea-water, lie helplessly on the 

 bottom, ragged and hideous, discharging brown pigment. 

 Presently the tentacles begin to fill, and one by one to 

 assume plumpness, and to move slowly; and gradually, after 

 some hours, the animal presents a more life-like appearance. 

 The extremities of the tentacles remain collapsed, and 

 apparently withered, long after the greater part of their 

 length has become plump, the division between the one and 

 the other condition being abrupt. The distension begins 



