470 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO I767. 



substance, consists of many tubular bodies, swelling gently towards the upper 

 part, and ending like a bulk, or very small onion ; on the top of each is its 

 mouth surrounded by one or two rows of tentacles, or claws, which when 

 contracted look like circles of beads. The lower part of all these bodies has a 

 communication with a firm fleshy wrinkled tube, which sticks fast to the rocks, 

 and sends forth other fleshy tubes, which creep along them in various directions. 

 These are full of different sizes of these remarkable animals, which rise up 

 irregularly in groupes near to one another. This adhering tube, that secures 

 them fast to the rock, or shelly bottom, is worthy of our notice. The knobs 

 that we observe, are formed in several parts of it, by its insinuating itself into 

 the equalities of the coral rock, or by grasping pieces of shells, part of which 

 still remain in it, with the fleshy substance grown over them. This shows us 

 the instinct of nature, that directs these animals to preserve themselves from the 

 violence of the waves, not unlike the anchoring of muscles, by their fine silken 

 filaments, that end in suckers; or rather like the shelly bases of the serpula, 

 or worm-shell, the tree-oyster, and the slipper barnacle, &c. whose bases conform 

 to the shape of whatever substance they fix themselves to, grasping it fast with 

 their testaceous claws, to withstand the fury of a storm, 



When we view the inside of this animal dissected lengthwise, we find a little 

 tube like a gullet leading from the mouth to the stomach, whence there rise 8 

 wrinkled small guts, in a circular order, with a yellowish soft substance in them: 

 these bend over in the form of arches towards the lower part of thebulb, whence they 

 may be traced downwards, to the narrow part of the upright tube, till they come to 

 the fleshy adhering tube, where some of them may be perceived entering into a 

 papilla, or the beginning of an animal of the like kind, most probably to convey 

 it nourishment, till it is provided with claws: the remaining part of these slender 

 guts are continued on in the fleshy tube, doubtless for the same purpose of 

 producing and supporting more young ones from the same common parent. 

 The many longitudinal fibres, that we discover lying parallel to each other, on the 

 inside of the semi-transparent skin, are all inserted in the several claws round 

 the animal's mouth, and are plainly the tendons of the muscles, for moving and 

 directing the claws, at the will of the animal; these may be likewise traced down 

 to the adhering tube. As this specimen has been preserved in spirits, the 

 colour of the animal when living cannot certainly be known; it is at present 

 of a pale yellowish brown. 



With regard to its name, it may be called actinia sociata, or the cluster animal 

 flower. 



Among the critics, I am aware of this; that it may be said, that an animal 

 compounded of many animals has not a very philosophical sound. But it is 

 well known, to those who understand the nature of zoophytes, that there are 



