374 OF INSECTS AND REPTILES. 



54. Thef?n all red Sea-Nettle (d) is frequent on the fea-rocks, and 

 pebbles, to \vhich it fixes itfelf with its clafpers as firm as a lim- 

 pet, in a convex form. It opens and expands itfelf like an ane- 

 mone, or a flower of the compofite order, of various tiniSls. It 

 hath a conic protuberance in the center, which is the mouth. 

 The leaf-like iibres are the tentacula or feelers with which it 

 explores its food, and by its contractile power enclofes it as in a 

 net, like the Sea-Afters. Some of them are of a crimfon colour at 

 the time of their expanfion, and others of a dark red ; all of a 

 dull obfcure red colour at the time of their being contracted, and 

 at reft. I had great pleafure in obferving them unfold their 

 beauties, and method of fubfifling on the rocks, at Hartley, near 

 Ssaton-Dclaval, 23 Augnjl, 1762, in company with Sir John HuJ/ey 

 JDelaval, Bart, and his brother, Ed-ward Delaval, Efcj; F. R. S. 



One was in the narrow ftnus of a rock, adhering to one fide 

 of it ; the exterior colour a dark red ; the numerous feelers of a 

 lively afh-colour, in continual motion towards feveral very fmall 

 limpets and mufcles round it, as if feeding upon them. 



Another was fixed to the end of a pebble, of a crimfon colour 

 jn its expanfion, the central protuberance having three different 

 Hiades, a light and a deep orange and red. 



There was alfo one affixed to a large rock of a beautiful red 

 rofe-colour, encircled at the edge with little oblong tubercles of 

 a bright Azure. A fmall limpet being placed near it, and in a 

 few minutes touching it with its horns, it feizedupon it inftantly 



(d) ,Urtica rubra Saxo innata. Aldrovandi Tab. de Zoophytis, No. vii. 

 Urtica rubra. Roncklet. lib. xvii. c. xvii. 



with 



