62 



small and insignificant one ; yet the researches of the Geolo- 

 gist have proved, that in the early as;es of our globe, species, 

 if not identical with those of the South Seas, yet equal to 

 to them in size and beauty, once inhabited our shores. In the 

 limestone rock of Devon, and in some of the slate rocks of 

 our southern coast they are common and well marked. 



The Cornish species are not numerous, are mostly soft, 

 fleshy, and single animals; there being but one calcareous, 

 and one compound species. 



The most common and most numerous genus is the Actinia 

 of which a representative may be found in the common 

 brown Anemone, every where to be found between tide 

 marks, in pools, and on the shelving sides of rocks. The 

 character of the order is: Polypes compound or single, free 

 or attached, ftoscnlous ; the body regular with a circular pe- 

 riphery, contractile , internally divided into numerous spaces by 

 perpendicular muscular septa ; mouth superior and central, 

 encircled ivith one or more series of tubular tentacu/a : stomach 

 membranous: anus O: ovaries and cceca placed in the septa 

 between the stomach and skin. 



The first genus we shall notice is the Actinia, which, in its 

 contracted or quiescent state is hemispherical or sub-co- 

 noidal, with a central superior orifice or depression; the 

 surface of its body is smooth and shining, or glandular and 

 warty. In the expanded state, the apex of the cone becomes 

 unfolded into a flat disc, having an oral aperture in the centre, 

 a plain surface beyond it surrounded by several circles of 

 tubular tapering tentacula, beyond which is a free plain rim. 

 It is this free edg;e which infolds over the tentacula and 

 hides them from view in the contracted state. This complete 

 retraction of the tentacula constitutes the difference between 

 the Actinia and Anthea, two genera, which are alike in all 

 other particulars. Thus when the animal is expanded it 

 bears a great resemblance to the pictorial representations of 

 the sun, and from which the name of the order is derived. 

 It will be unnecessary to enter further into the anatomy of 

 these creatures, than will suffice to convey a general idea of 

 their form and those points of their physiology which may be 

 considered popular. Those who desire to enter further into 

 the subject, will find an elaborate paper on it in the Leeds 

 Philosophical and Literary Transactions by Mr. Teale, and 

 to the accurac}' of which I can bear testimony. 



The body is hollow ; the mouth opens by a short, wide 

 passage into the stomach. The stomach is large, membra- 

 nous, semi-transparent, plaited and divided into two equal 

 parts by longitudinal furrows; these are formed by ihe 

 adhession of the stomach to two solid fleshy septa through 



