MAMNE BOTANY. 



93 



purple A. equina, which lives on rocks and' reefs, and the 

 white A. plumosa, whose disk, often measuring four inches 

 in diameter, is covered with close, short, brilliantly white 

 tentacles ; hut the largest and finest are found in the 

 Tropical Ocean. Their colour is as various as the arrange- 

 ment of their tentacles: there are some bright red and 

 green, light blue and orange-coloured, yellow and milky 

 white. At times, the tentacles from a Gorgon's head of 



GROUP OF ACTINIA. 



long thick fibres, covered with the softest velvety lustre ; in 

 others, they represent a forest of thin threads. 



This race is also compelled to pay tribute to the human 

 palate. Thus, the Actinia forda'ica, a handsome vaiiety, 

 with scarlet tentacles, found in the Mediterranean, is con- 

 sidered a great delicacy in Italy, and thousands of them are 

 eaten among the other frutti del mare. 



The young of the Actiniae, which are produced from small 

 gelatinous eggs, remain at first in the maternal cavity, 

 where they find a sufficiency of food, and are gradually 



