POLYPS AND CORALS. 317 



contraction, forming prominent verrucse, covered with 

 fine, agglutinated sand. 



Diameter of polyps .25 inch. 



Loo Choo Islands. Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



The suborder, Antipathacea, is not represented in the 

 collection. 



SUBORDER, ACTINACEA. See Vol. IV, p.. 148. 



FAMILY, CERIANTHIDJE Edw. and Haime. 

 Ilyanthidce {pars) Gosse, Actinologia Britauica, p. 227. 



CERIANTHUS ORIENTALIS Verrill, these Proceedings, 

 Vol. IV, p. 151, 1865. 



Column much elongated, tapering to the base, forming 

 around itself a loose tube of mud agglutinated by a 

 mucous secretion. "Tentacles long and slender, not 

 retractile ; inner ones dark purple-brown ; outer ones 

 transparent yellowish white, spotted with pale brownish 

 on their inner surfaces, and greenish at the base. In a 

 variety, often seen, the inner tentacles are grass-green. 

 Body of a deep reddish brown color." 



This is a large species which, according to Dr. Stimp- 

 son, agrees perfectly in habits and the structure of its 

 tube with C. Americana V. of Charleston, S. C., living 

 buried to its tentacles in mud. 



It is rather sluggish in its habits, and will bear rough 

 handling or agitation of the mud near it before retracting 

 into its tube. This movement, however, when the ani- 

 mal is alarmed, is sufficiently quick. On ordinary occa- 

 sions it slowly retracts into its tube. 



Hong Kong, China, on muddy flats at low water mark. 

 Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



CERIANTHUS STIMPSONII Verrill, these Proceedings, 

 Vol. V, p. 50, 3866. 



Plate 1, figures 7, 7 a. 



Column slender, elongated, tapering to the slender 



