75 



shelving: sides of rocks between tide marks, where it is 

 frequently left dry by tbe ebbing tide. In a contracted state 

 it is hemispherical or conoidal ; in its expanded more or less 

 columnar, with its upper extremity surrounded with several 

 series of tentacula, and a free plaited margin which folds in 

 and covers the tentacula when the animal is contracted. It 

 varies in size to one inch or one inch and half in diameter at 

 its base and to tbe same in height. The surface of the body 

 is smooth, but is frequently drawn into longitudinal and cir- 

 cular folds at the will of the animal. The colour is liable 

 to many variations of brown, green, red and sometimes a 

 mixture of the whole in longitudinal stripes. The tentacula 

 are in several series, small and with the oral disc always of a 

 lighter colonr than the rest of the body ; between the outer 

 row of tentacula and the free plaited edge of the disc is a 

 circle of azure blue tubercles, which are most apparent when 

 the animal is semi-expanded. Though these tubercles are 

 described as being blue, yet I have seen many red, and in 

 one locality they are all white, the whole animal in the same 

 spot is very frequently of a transparent whitish pink colour, 

 and sometimes of a pure white. This spot is rather ex- 

 posed to the sea, but sheltered by a ledge of rocks, the 

 bottom is sandy, and the place is very frequently nearly 

 filled with decomposing sea weed. The verge of the base is 

 always of lighter or different colour from the body and is 

 very frequently formed by a blue band. 



Gaertner was of opinion that this species changed its colour 

 with the seasons, being red in summer and brown or green in 

 autumn, this however appears to be without foundation ; the 

 red, brown and green varieties occur mingled together at all 

 seasons ; there is, perhaps, a little variation in the lightness 

 of the tint during summer, but each retains its own colour 

 throughout the year. In some situations, such as the upright 

 face of a stone in a sandy or muddy soil, the animal becomes 

 so flaccid and so different in form and colour, as scarcely to 

 be recognised; but they always possess the rim of tubercles, 

 and by this they may be known. It is a very cleanly species, 

 and always prefers for its place of fixture the sloping surface 

 of a rock, where it can be abundantly supplied with good 

 water ; if this cannot be procured, it suffers by the change. 



ACTINIA VIDUATA. Body conoid, longitudinally 

 striped with light brown or yellow and white ; tentacula 

 marked with circles of the same. 



Actinia Viduata, Johnston in Mag. Nat. Hist., vol.8, p. 82, 

 fig. 13 ; Brit. Zooph., p. 211, fig. 29, p. 205. 



Hab. From deep water on the Pinna irjgens ; and in sandy 

 ground near low water mark. Polperro, Whitsand bay, 

 Coomb, &c. 



