A. TROGLODYTES. 51 



A. troglodytes* (cave-dweller) is a very common, 

 but interesting object. The members of this species 

 are especial favourites with the writer, from their 

 great suitableness for the aquarium. They vary 

 considerably in their appearance from each other. 

 Some are red, violet, purple, or fawn colour; others 

 exhibit a mixture of these tints, while not a few are 

 almost entirely white. There are certain specimens 

 which disclose tentacula, that in colour and character 

 look, at a little distance, like a mass of eider-down 

 spread out in a circular form. A better comparison, 

 perhaps, presents itself in the smallest plumage of a 

 bird beautifully stippled, and radiating from a centre. 

 The centre is the mouth of the zoophyte, and is 

 generally a light buff or yellow colour. From each 

 corner, in certain specimens, there branches out a 

 white horn that tapers to a very delicate point, and 

 is ofttimes gracefully curled like an Ionic volute, or 

 rather like the tendril of a vine. 



In addition to the pair of horns alluded to, may 

 sometimes be seen a series of light-coloured rays, 

 occurring at regular intervals around the circumfer- 

 ence of the deep tinted tentacula, and thereby produc- 



* The above mentioned Actinia is extremely abundant on the shores of the Frith 

 of Forth. Sir .1. Daly ell terms it A. explorator. Local amateur naturalists fre- 

 quently reject the specific name of 'Troglodytes,' and adopt the more musical 

 appellation of * Daisy-Anemone.' Such error seems very pardonable, when we re- 

 member the close resemblance which the creature when expanded bears to the daisy 

 of the field. In no single instance have I met with specimens of the true A. bellis 

 at the above named locality, nor do I think any have ever been found by previous 

 naturalists. 



