POLYPS AND CORALS. 63 



It is probable that Actinia elegantissima and A. Laur- 

 entii of Brandt are identical with this species, but the 

 descriptions are insufficient for identification. It is also 

 probable that Rhodactinia Davisii Agassiz, of the New 

 England coast, is not distinct from the European form. 



URTICINA- COCCINEA Verrill. 



Rhodactinia coccinea Verrill, these Proceedings, Vol. V, p. 50, 1866. 

 Plate 1, figure 6, and Vol. V, plate 1, figure 6. 



Column cylindrical, short, equalling the base ; sides 

 nearly smooth, with few, slightly prominent, inconspicu- 

 ous verrucse ; below the tentacles forming a distinct fold, 

 its upper edge with low rounded verrucas, formed by the 

 inflation of the skin between the radiating lamellae. Tenta- 

 cles about one hundred in number, crowded in about four 

 rows on the disk between the mouth and margin, nearly 

 equal in size, the interior a little larger, rather long, mod- 

 erately thick, pointed. Mouth with many folds upon the 

 lips. 



Color of column uniform deep crimson ; disk and ten- 

 tacles lighter. 



Kagosima Bay, Japan, on rocks in the second region of 

 the littoral zone, January, 1855. Dr. Wm. Stimpson. 



In alcohol the tentacles are not withdrawn, but are con- 

 tracted to a short, thick, conical form, closely crowded in 

 four or five rows. The stomach is partially everted. 



The figure (PL I, fig. 6) does not represent a suffi- 

 cient number of tentacles. They are also stouter and 

 less marginal than there figured. 



PHYSACTIS Verrill, gen. nov. 



Base as broad as the disk. Column short, cylindrical, 

 with a fold below the margin, beneath which its sides are 

 covered with prominent and persistent scattered verrucas ; 

 above the fold the texture is softer and smoother, and the 

 surface is crowdedly covered with small, inconspicuous, 

 soft papillas or verrucse arranged in vertical lines. Ten- 



