402 



On Sea Anemones and Hydroid Polyps 



engaging the most minute attention of some of the ablest natu- 

 ralists. I do not propose in the present paper to add anything to 

 their general natural history, but merely to record the occurrence 

 on the coast of British America of some species found by myself 

 in Gaspe, or collected at Metis and Murray Bay by Miss Carey of 

 Perth, who has placed a number of interesting specimens in my 

 hands for determination. 



I. — Sea Anemones collected in Gaspe. 



The Actiniae, or Sea Anemones, belong to a large and impor- 

 tant group of radiated animals, including the coral building polyps 

 of the intertropical seas, and constituting the class Anthozoa of 

 Owen's system, and the Polypi of that of Agassiz. The Acti- 



k A 



« 



^■S- 





m 



Ifl 



:v 



Fig. 2. — Actinia Dianthus. Expanded. 



niae are the largest and most interesting representatives of this 

 group in these latitudes. They derive their common name from 

 their flower-like aspect, though they are truly animals, and are 

 both complex in structure and voraciou i in their habits. When 

 expanded they present a circular fleshy disc having the mouth in 

 the centre, and at or near the circumference a fringe of tentacles 



