44 University of California Publications. [Zoology 



Size. Mouth disk may reach the size of 150 mm. with a 

 column 300 mm. or more in length. 



Distribution. San Diego, California. Gulf of Panama ; 'Pa- 

 nama; Pearl Islands; Acajutla, San Salvador; California coast; 

 Puget Sound; Sitka, Alaska. 



This is the common shore anemone on the California coast 

 from San Diego to San Francisco, probably the only verrucose 

 species occurring in the region between tide marks, according to 

 the observations I have made at San Diego, San Pedro, Santa 

 Barbara (vid. B. calif ornica Fewkes), Monterey, and San Fran- 

 cisco. From Verrill's description it would seem to be identical 

 with the Panama species (A. Dowii), a view confirmed by the 

 observation of the living animals by several zoological friends. 



In spite of this southern range, the same species is found 

 northward along the coast as far as Unalaska. I formerly listed 

 it under the name of Cribrina artemisia (1902, p. 390), the mate- 

 rial then under observation having been collected at various 

 points between the Aleutian Islands and Puget Sound. A re- 

 examination of this material has demonstrated the presence of 

 acrorhagi, in most cases so flattened and distorted as to have 

 been readily overlooked originally in the contracted specimens. 

 Many individuals were found buried in the sand in the manner 

 noted by McMurrich (p. 23), but the species was equally abun- 

 dant on the shore rocks. Both habits are characteristic of the 

 California material. The form of the column varies accordingly, 

 very long individuals taken from the sand becoming much shorter 

 than broad in aquaria. Cross sections of the sphincter muscle 

 show conditions which McMurrich has figured as characteristic 

 of A. xanthogrammica, C. artemisia, and C. elegantissima. Both 

 sand and rock dwelling forms almost invariably spurt water 

 from many points on the distal portion of the column when con- 

 tracting after being taken from the water. This habit is charac- 

 teristic of B. artemisia according to Pickering, and is mentioned 

 in connection with B. Dowii by Verrill. It seems to be too con- 

 stant to be connected with temporary ruptures in the body wall. 

 Permanent openings probably exist, although difficult to find in 

 sections. 



Calkins described the appearance of A. xanthogrammica as 



