128 Mr. 1*. H. Gosse on new or little-known Marine Animals. 



warts, and therefore the red specks, ai'e exceedingly numerous j 

 at the margin, where they are most distinct, they rise into 

 rounded crenations. 



This species was described by Mr. W.Thompson in the 'Zoo- 

 logist' for 1851, and, as I believe, from a single specimen. The 

 name clavata is objectionable, as the tentacles are not clubbed, 

 though their tips are often curled up in a peculiar manner. I 

 will not, however, commit the robbery of depriving the discoverer 

 of his name, merely because I think I could lind one more sig- 

 nificant. It is quite common on the rocky ledges, inhabiting 

 fissures and the deserted holes of boring Mollusca ; but only at 

 very low water level. There are two very distinct varieties ; the 

 ordinary state has been described by the discoverer ; one more 

 beautiful, but somewhat less common, I have sketched above. 



Iluanthos Mitchellii. The Scarlet Free-Anemone. 



Length about 2 inches, greatest diameter 1 inch. The form 

 is stout, somewhat pear-shaped, thickening from the top for 

 about f inch, after which it gradually tapers to a blunt point at 

 the base, in the centre of which is a minute wrinkled disk, which 

 the animal does not appear to use as an adhesive sucker. The 

 upper part of the body is pale scarlet, the lower two-thirds flesh- 

 white, blotched with scarlet, the basal extremity scarlet. 



The disk is very protrusile, not so wide as the body. In its 

 centre is a prominent mouth with two thick lips of rich scarlet, 

 toothed like that of a Caryophyllia. A ring of purplish black 

 surrounds the lips, which is succeeded by a wider circle of 

 white, and the remainder of the disk is pale red ; the whole 

 marked with the usual radiating ridges. The tentacles are about 

 thirty -six, arranged in two complete I'ows ; they are thick and 

 rather short, conical, and usually curled ; the bases of the two 

 rows are in contact, but the outer is a full sixth of an inch from 

 the margin, and the inner about as far from the base of the oral 

 cone. They are pellucid white, marked on their inner sides with 

 numerous alternate bands of opake-white and purple, sometimes 

 taking a diagonal direction. The tentacle that is opposite the 

 extremity of the linear mouth, on each side, is wholly dull pur- 

 ple, with pale bands almost obsolescent. 



This very fine species was brought me by one of the Wey- 

 mouth trawlers : I have named it after D. W. Mitchell, Esq., the 

 able Secretary of the Zoological Society, in whose marine aqua- 

 rium the specimen itself is deposited. 



I shall hope to continue this series of notes, as fresh observa- 

 tions occur to me, and in the meanwhile remain. 



Your obedient servant, 



P. H. Gosse. 



Weymouth, July 9th, 1853. 



