SEA ANEMONES. 211 



to test its tmth. Rondeletius tells us, having, as Dr. Johnston thinks, 

 A. crassicornis in view, that it brings a good price at Bordeaux. 

 Actinia dianthus also is good to eat, quoth Dicquemare, and Plaucus 

 directs the cook to dress it after the manner of dressing oysters, with 

 which it is frequently eaten. Actinia coriacea is found in the market 

 at Rochefort during the months of January, February, and March. 

 Its flesh is said to be both delicate and savoury. 



With these general considerations, we proceed to note some of 

 the more remarkable genera and species of these interesting creatures. 

 Among these, the species represented in Plate V. are the ones 

 usually seen collected in such aquariums as those of the Zoological 

 Gardens of London and Dublin and the Garden of Acclimatisation 

 of Paris. 



The first section of the group of ActiniadcE, in which the base is 

 adherent at pleasure, includes, according to Mr. Gosse, those anemones 

 in which the tentacles are compound. To this section belongs, 

 among others, the genus Metridium. A second section contains 

 those where the tentacles are simple. Here we find the pretty 

 Corynactis viridis. 



C. viridis has very numerous tentacula, sometimes as many as 

 loo, exceeding in length the breadth of the body, of a fine 

 bro\\Tiish or olive green, and rose-coloured at the extremity. The 

 trunk is of a greyish green or brown ; the disc is brown with 

 greenish rays. This species is plentiful in the Mediterranean and on 

 the south-east coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. When attached 

 to the vertical sides of a rock, a little below the surface of the water, 

 in which position it is often seen, the tentacles hang suspended, as if 

 the animal had no power to display them in tlieir radiate form ; but 

 when fixed horizontally in a calm sea, they are spread out in all 

 directions, and are kept in a state of continual agitation ; its long, 

 handsome tentacula, fully expanded, float and balance themselves in 

 the water in spite of the action of the waves, presenting a most 

 interesting spectacle as it displays its beauties a few feet below the 

 surface of the water. 



Actinoloba diatithus (Ellis) is represented in Plate VI., Fig. i ; its 

 body IS smooth and cylindrical ; the disc marked in the centre witli 

 clavate radiating bands ; tentacula numerous, irregular, the outer 

 small, and forming round the margin a thick filamentous fringe. 

 This species attaches itself to rocks and shells in deep water, or 

 within low-water mark, to which it permanently attaches itself, and 

 can scarcely be removed without organic injury to the base. When 

 contracted, the body presents a thick, short, sub-cylindrical form, 



o 2 



