VOL. LII.l PHILOSOPHICAL Til ANSACTIONS. B2f 



though it be lengthways sulcated by a number of sulci, that are frequently di- 

 vided into 3 smaller ones, and are continued into the dentated margin, that 

 surrounds the upper periphery of the body, just beneath the insertion of the 

 feelers. These feelers, rising from the disk of the polype, are, according to the 

 age of the animal, between 120 and 200 in number; they exceed the body when 

 expanded by more than an inch in length, and are of a beautiful sea-green colour, 

 except toward their extremities, which are coloured with a lively red, like that 

 of the rose. The disk is of the same brown colour with the rest of the body, 

 and contains in its centre the mouth of the animal, which is an aperture of vari- 

 ous shape and diameter. The two varieties of this species, which Dr. G, met 

 with, differ but little from the already described animal. The feelers of the one, 

 instead of being green, are throughout of a red colour, like that of mahogany 

 wood. The other variety has pale ash-coloured feelers, marked with a small 

 white line running along their back; its body is of the same chestnut colour with 

 that of the first species ; but the sulci are not divided, nor has it a dentated 

 margin surrounding its upper periphery. 



The polype belonging to the 2d class, concealing their feelers when irritated, 

 are the following : Hydra calyciflora, tentaculis retractilibus variegatis, corpore 

 verrucuso.-f- 



From its small basis rises a cylindric stalk, which supports the roundish body 

 of the animal, whence afterwards the calyx, being a continued membrane of the 

 body, draws its origin. The stalk, or the pendunculus of the polype is quite 

 smooth, and its colour inclines towards carnation. The outside of the calyx, 

 and the body of this animal, are marked with a number of small white protube- 

 rances, resembling warts, to which fragments of shells, sand-grains, &c. ad- 

 here, and hide the beautiful colour of these parts, which, from that of carnation, 

 is insensibly changed towards the border of the calyx, first into purple, then 

 violet, and at last into a dark brown. The inside of the calyx is covered with 

 the feelers, that grow in several ranges upon it : they differ considerably in 

 length ; those that are near the edge of the calyx being but small papillae, in 

 proportion to those that surround the disk, or the central part of the body. 

 They are almost transparent ; and some of them are of a pale ash colour, with 

 brown spots ; others, on the contrary, are of a chestnut colour, marked with 

 white spots. The disk is formed like a star, which, according to the figure 

 that is traced out by the innermost row of the feelers, consists of many angles. 

 The colour of this part of the body is a beautiful mixture of brown, yellow, 

 ash-colour, and white, which together form variegated rays, that from the cen- 



• This is the Actinia Cereus of Ellis, f This is the Actinia Bellis of Ellis. 



