I3ir.] GENUS ACTINIA. 151 



torn near shores, or raise between rocks their radiated 

 discs; if one removes these rocks, one will find the ani- 

 mals united by their long peduncles. If we proceed far- 

 ther we shall find others, less fearful, united in close groups, 

 joined together by the base of their peduncles, and ex- 

 posed to the action of the waves upon the rocks, and the 

 marine plants to which they fix themselves. From the 

 last species we pass to other animals, which, whilst they 

 are perfectly expanded, equally present the aspect of Ac- 

 tiniae, though in miniature: their peduncles being very 

 short, the animals, when contracted, resemble mammae 

 of three or four lines long, crowding one against another 

 on the same base, which may be likened to thick smooth 

 leather. These are found covering the base of the rocks 

 of the entry of the ports of St. Vincent, and Guadeloupe, 

 and exposed to the action of the waves. It should seem 

 that by their large expansion they are intended to protect 

 the rocks from the attrition of the waters, which good 

 office their unctuous liquor may subserve, by soothing 

 the force of the w\^ves. If we carry our researches fur- 

 ther, we shall find others, analogous to the last, and equally 

 exposed with them on the rocks, but endeavouring to dis- 

 guise or conceal themselves by assuming the appeara'hce 

 of the rocks, which is effected by forming their base, 

 and envelope, of very fine sand, agglutinated together by 

 means of mucous, with which the animal is copiously sup- 

 plied. This species shut themselves up in this kind of 

 crust, and oiily permit an orifice to each cell* The en- 

 crustation, when dry, is pretty hard, and resem]:)les a 

 madrepore in the disposition of the cells; the animal, like- 

 wise, assuming the appearance of a madreporic animal, 

 justifies us in considering the latter, to a certain point, as 



