48 Bibliographical Notices, 



The order Helianthoida includes five genera and thirteen Bri- 

 tish species. On the genus Actinia Dr. Johnston makes a number 

 of interesting remarks, the evident fruits of a careful study of the 

 native species. Many will differ with him however as to the union 

 of some of his synonyms. The Actinia margaritifera of Templeton, 

 judging from the figure in the Magazine of Natural History, is surely 

 something different from A. mesembryanthemum, as also A. viduata, 

 Muller, which does not only differ from the common species in co- 

 lour, but also in habit and shape, being always much more elongated. 

 Though living almost invariably in sand, its peculiarities are not to 

 be attributed solely to its habitat ; since when A. mesembryanthemum 

 is found in such a situation it retains its true characters. Under 

 Actinea gemmacea we find united A. verrucosa. Lam., A. monile, Tem- 

 pleton, A. senilis Decquemare, A. equina, Sow., and several other 

 supposed species. Though in so doing the author has much reason 

 on his side, yet it is likely that several distinct forms have been 

 passed over in the British seas, as A. gemmacea. 



The statement that the littoral varieties " are always strongly 

 warted" and " coated with particles of broken shells," &c., while the 

 deep water specimens are generally clean, showing more vivid and 

 varied tints, though a pleasing inference of adaptation of instinctive 

 habit to circumstances is drawn from it, is not always borne out by 

 fact. For instance, this species abounds at half tide at Newhaven 

 and other places on the shores of the Frith of Forth ; more vividly 

 coloured or smoother creatures can scarcely be imagined ; whilst 

 such as are dredged in deep water in the Irish sea are generally dull 

 in colour, and covered with broken shell. To the localities of Ac- 

 tinia maculata may be added the coasts of Man, where it is ex- 

 tremely common on old Fusi and Trochi in deep water. There the 

 shells to which this beautiful animal attaches itself are not always, 

 indeed seldom, inhabited by the hermit-crab, neither is the horny 

 base always present. This Actinia seems to change its habitation 

 according to its size. There are so many differences between it and 

 the other species, that it may be regarded as the type of a distinct 

 genus. In the wood-cut the tentacula are represented as much too few, 

 and in the living animal the mouth is bilobed, with two distinct rows 

 of tentacula encircling it. The lobing of the body is seen in all spe- 

 cimens whether embracing or simply on the surface of a shell. In 

 addition to Dr. Johnston's references may be mentioned some inter- 

 esting notes on this animal in Chiagi's Memorie, vol. ii. p. 243. 



For the Actinia with non- retractile tentacula. Dr. Johnston con- 

 stitutes a new genus, Anthea, with the following character : — 



