ACTINIA. 221 



membrane of the body, draws its origin. The stalk, or pedunculus of 

 the polyp is quite smooth, and its colour inclines towards the carna- 

 tion. The outside of the calyx, and the body of this animal, are marked 

 with a number of small white protuberances resembling warts, to which 

 fragments of shell, sand-grains, &c. adhere, and hide the beautiful 

 colour of these parts, which, from that of carnation, are insensibly 

 changed towards the border of the calyx, first into purple, then violet, 

 and at last into a dark brown. The inside of the calyx is covered with 

 the feelers that grow in several ranges upon it ; they differ considerably 

 in length, those that are near the edge of the calyx being but small 

 papiUse, in proportion to those that surround the disk, or the central 

 part of the body. They are almost transparent, and some of them of 

 a pale ash colour, with brown spots ; others, on the contrary, are of a 

 chestnut colour, marked with white spots. The disk is formed like'a 

 star, which, according to the figure that is traced out by the innermost 

 row of the feelers, consists of many angles. The colour of this part of 

 the body is a beautiful mixture of brown, yellow-ash colour, and white, 

 which together form variegated rays, that, from the centre or the mouth 

 of the animal, are spread over the whole surface of the disk. The 

 polyp, contracting itself, changes its body into an irregular hemisphere, 

 which is so covered with the several extraneous bodies that stick to it, 

 that it is extremely difficult to know the animal in this state, and to 

 discern it from the rubbish that commonly suiTounds it." 



Actinia gemmacea is larger than those previously named ; it has 

 three or four rows of thick short feelers around the oral disk, which 

 have suckers at the ends, by which they seize and hold their unfortunate 

 victims. This is a large and varied species of different colours, the 

 feelers being usually variegated with red and white rings. Its body is 

 rough, with glandular warts ; and being covered by the sand, shells, or 

 gravel surrounding it, is hidden from objects that may prey upon it, 

 or unobserved by those upon which it preys. So singular is Nature in 

 adapting its productions to the circumstances by which they are sur- 

 rounded, that when this species becomes an inhabitant of waters that 

 do not leave it dry, the masquerading-dress is cast aside, the warts 

 almost disappear, and it stands forth in all its beauty, proving the words 

 of the poet, that "when unadorned, adorned the most." 



What will man not venture to eat, in hope of tickling the appetite 

 with some new excitement ! Dicquemare says : " Of all the kinds of 

 sea-anemonies, I would prefer this for the table ; being boiled some 

 time in sea-water, they acquire a firm and palatable consistence, and 

 may then be eaten with any kind of sauce. They are of an inviting 



