144 THE PARASITIC ANEMONE. 



a difficult matter to clear them away, proves that even 

 the most callous parts of the human skin offer no 

 impediment to the entrance of those subtle weapons, 

 the barbed threads, though their poisonous properties 

 are too feeble to be appreciated by our nerves. 



THE PARASITIC ANEMONE. 



This species (Actinia parasitica of Couch) takes 

 rank among the largest of our native Actinise, being 

 only exceeded by fine specimens of A. dianthus. It 

 frequently attains a height of four inches, and a 

 diameter of two and a half. It is of a columnar 

 form, nearly equal in diameter throughout, but com- 

 monly a little expanded at the base, which slightly 

 spreads over the substances to which it adheres. 



The colouring of the body, though subject to some 

 variation, always maintains such an uniformity of 

 style and pattern as to render it easy of identification 

 at all times. Indeed T know of no species which is 

 less liable to be mistaken for any other than this. 

 The ground-colour is a dirty white, or drab, often 

 slightly tinged with pale yellow ; longitudinal bands 

 of dark wood-brown, reddish, or purplish brown, run 

 down the body, sometimes very regularly, and set so 

 closely so as leave the intermediate bands of ground- 

 colour much narrower than themselves : at other times 

 these hands are narrower, more separated, and va- 

 riously interrupted or broken. I have seen a variety 

 in which the bands took the form of chains of round 

 dark spots, the effect of which was handsome. Im- 

 mediately round the base the bands usually sub-divide 

 and are varied by a single series of upright oblong 



