SEA ANEMONES. 211 
to test its truth. Rondeletius tells us, having, as Dr. Johnston thinks, 
A. crassicornts in view, that it brings a good price at Bordeaux. 
Actinia dianthus also is good to eat, quoth Dicquemare, and Plaucus 
directs the cook to dress it after the manner of dressing oysters, with 
which it is frequently eaten. Actinta coriacea is found in the market 
at Rochefort during the months of January, February, and March. 
Its flesh is said to be both delicate and savoury. 
With these general considerations, we proceed to note some of 
the more remarkable genera and species of these interesting creatures. 
Among these, the species represented in PLaTE V. are the ones 
usually seen collected in such aquariums as those of the Zoological 
Gardens of London and Dublin and the Garden of Acclimatisation 
of Paris. 
The first section of the group of Actznzade, in which the base is 
adherent at pleasure, includes, according to Mr. Gosse, those anemones 
in which the tentacles are compound. To this section belongs, 
among others, the genus MJetridium. A second section contains 
those where the tentacles are simple. Here we find the pretty 
Corynactis viridis. 
C. viridis has very numerous tentacula, sometimes as many as 
100, exceeding in length the breadth of the body, of a fine 
brownish or olive green, and rose-coloured at the extremity. The 
trunk is of a greyish green or brown; the disc is brown with 
greenish rays. This species is plentiful in the Mediterranean and on 
the south-east coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. When attached 
to the vertical sides of a rock, a little below the surface of the water, 
in which position it is often seen, the tentacles hang suspended, as if 
the animal had no power to display them in their radiate form ; but 
when fixed horizontally in a calm sea, they are spread out in all 
directions, and are kept in a state of continual agitation ; its long, 
handsome tentacula, fully expanded, float and balance themselves in 
the water in spite of the action of the waves, presenting a most 
interesting spectacle as it displays its beauties a few feet below the 
surface of the water. 
Actinoloba dianthus (Ellis) is represented in PLaTE VI., Fig. 1 ; its 
body 1s smooth and cylindrical ; the disc marked in the centre with 
clavate radiating bands; tentacula numerous, irregular, the outer 
small, and forming round the margin a thick filamentous fringe. 
This species attaches itself to rocks and shells in deep water, or 
within low-water mark, to which it permanently attaches itself, and 
can scarcely be removed without organic injury to the base. When 
contracted, the body presents a thick, short, sub-cylindrical form, 
02 
