302 ZOANTHID.E. 



morsel be laid gently on the truncate summit of the closed 

 column, the converging teetli appearing, it will remain there 

 until the animal seizes it. The tentacles are protruded one 

 by one so cautiously that the meat is not disturbed, and 

 soon we discern that it is environed by a wall of tentacles, 

 and that the mouth is gaping widely to embrace it. 



After feeding, or when food which has been resting on 

 the disk is suddenly taken away, the whole disk is protruded 

 as a cone, on the summit of which the open throat forms a 

 wide valley, coarsely furrowed. 



The creeping-band is very sensitive ; when touched with 

 a needle-point, all the polypes suddenly contract, yet not 

 quite simultaneously, but in the order of succession cor- 

 responding to their proximity to the point of attack. 



Mr. Holdsworth tells me that " the polypes live very 

 well when detached from their support." 



The generic name is formed from £gW, an animal, and 

 avOos, a flower ; the English term is meant to express its 

 peculiar habit. 



Shetland, G. Barlee : Northumberland, J. A.: Guernsey, 

 J. A.: Torquay, E. W. H. H. : Cornwall (throughout), 

 JR. Q. C. : Strangford Lough, TV. T. 



astk^eacea. 



zoanthus. 



Caryophylliacea. 



