246 
ANEMONES ON THE YORKSHIRE COAST. 
JOHN IRVING, M.D., 
Scarborough. 
OF marine fauna to be found on the Yorkshire coast, between 
tides, down to extreme low water level, anemones occupy the 
first place as living objects of beauty. A selected dozen, or 
two, of each species placed in clean sea-water in a suitable 
vessel. or vessels, soon fix themselves and make a rich display 
of colours and patterns scarcely conceivable by those who have 
only viewed solitary specimens. This is the surest method 
of comparing, and determining varieties which are often 
numerous and remarkable. Occasionally it may be of great 
service in discovering new species, which, in the ‘ button’ state, 
simulate commoner forms. By way of example, take cave 
anemones, Sagartia troglodytes, so common at Scarborough 
and Filey. A group of thirty or forty of these, in a fair-sized 
photographic dish, covered with clear sea-water, when opened 
out, exhibit marvellous diversity, and, under scrutiny, possibly 
a ‘daisy, Sagartia bellis, or an ‘ orange-mouth, Sagartia 
venusta, may be seen among them, which would have been 
overlooked in ordinary circumstances. 
Yorkshire has not been credited with its full quota of 
species, probably through lack of persistent research and close 
observation. If I remember rightly, the snow anemone, 
Sagartia nivea, was recently found at Spurn, and recorded in 
‘The Naturalist.’ Sagartia pura though not very common, is 
found at Scarborough, and at Redcar. In August r1g1o, I 
saw numerous specimens of the scarlet-fringed anemone, 
Sagartia miniata, attached to the Scarborough light-house pier, 
in association with Saxicavae. Their resemblance to the 
‘buttons’ of small-sized Tealia crassicornis might have ended 
in their being left undisturbed, but for promptings of curiosity, 
I tried to dislodge one. The immediate and free discharge of 
acontia betrayed them. Again, in April last, at the end of 
Filey Brig, at spring tide low water, I came across the same 
species, practically in hundreds, fixed to huge limestone blocks, 
occupied by Saxicavae, the red noses of which harmonized 
well with these rather inconspicuous anemones. So far as I 
know, Sagartia miniata 1s new to our list, and has never been 
mentioned as occurring on the Yorkshire coast, despite the 
fact that it is so firmly established. Our coast may not be 
able to compete with more favourably situated south coast 
regions in regard to anemones, but there seems to me to be 
ample scope for improvement. 
——: 0:—— 
The collection of lepidoptera formed by Mr. S. J. Capper. of Liverpool, 
has been purchased, and is in the hands of a dealer for disposal.— The 
Entomologist, No. 576. 
Naturalist, 
