172 GENUS ACTINIA. [December. 



This species dwells in the sand of the coasts of the 

 United States; and raises its head above the common sur- 

 face for the purpose of displaying its tentacula; when 

 contracted, in its habitation, it is concealed below the sur- 

 face. The individual described was an inch and a half 

 in diameter, and four or five inches in length. Disco- 

 vered at Egg-harbour, on the coast of Newjersey. It is 

 necessary to observe that this Actinia is frequently dis- 

 turbed in its habitation by the waves of the ocean, and is 

 found washed on the sands; in this event, a common ob- 

 server would take it for a rotten pear, or something similar. 



8. A. marginata. Eight or nine rov/s of tentacula^ 

 which are short, slender, equal, placed on a large expan- 

 sion, the plaits whereof present ten or twelve large lobes; 

 the border of the upper extremity of the bodyh large, and 

 encloses the tentacula when contracted, which are disposed 

 in a quincunx order, and smooth, pointed, and of a pale 

 reddish colour; the mouth is plaited. 



The animal, when unfijlded, presents a branchial disc; 

 the colour of the bodt/ is burnt terra de siena; in diameter 

 and length about one inch and a half. Inhabits Boston- 

 Bay, in the cavities of rocks, below fuci. 



9. A. annulata, Tentacida pointed, unequal, divided 

 by eight or nine rings, which are white, and elevated like 

 embossment, they are disposed around a narrow disc. 



Body tubulous, long, straight, very contractile, assum- 

 ing different forms; tl:ie centre tentacida are about six or 

 eight in number, and very long, the remainder of the ten- 

 tacula, as they approach the margin, diminish to about 

 half the length of those of the centre; length about two or 



