78 



and its upper surface is surrounded by several rows of varie- 

 gated tentacula. The mouth is central, and surrounded by 

 a thick lip of a reddish colour. This is marked at two 

 opposite points with a radiating line of a light colour and 

 frequently of a rose tint terminating in white, but varying 

 in different individuals. Beyond this lip is a narrow circle 

 of white, more or less distinctly marked ; beyond this is 

 a darker surface, semi-transparent and surrounded by several 

 rows of tentacula. The base of each tentaculum is embraced 

 by two red, and the inner row also by two white lines, 

 which converge on either side and cross the oral disc on the 

 one hand, and pass between the the bases of the tentacula 

 on the other. Bach circle of tentacula is regularly marked 

 with bars of carnation, lake, brown, yellow, and white, in 

 such a manner that a series of coloured circles is formed 

 around the mouth ; so that when the animal is fully expanded 

 it presents a scene of such remarkable brilliancy and beauty 

 as to rival even the flowers ; but it is liable to so many 

 variations in the arrangement and depth of the tints that a 

 description will serve only for a few individuals. The re- 

 semblance to a flower is very great, and a stranger might be 

 excused for mistaking it. On one occasion while watching 

 a specimen that was covered merely by a rim of water, a 

 bee, wandering near, darted through the water to the mouth 

 of the animal, evidently mistaking the creature for a flower, 

 and though it struggled a great deal to get free, was retained 

 till it was drowned and was then swallowed. 



When an individual of this species has been kept in con- 

 finement for some time it gets flaccid and semi-transparent, 

 the lips become everted and several transparent striated 

 lobes become evolved, and sometimes to such an extent as to 

 hang over the sides. Though this at first is done apparently 

 at the will of the animal and can be withdrawn at pleasure, 

 yet it appears to be in some measure a sign of disease, for 

 the animal finally gets so flaccid and distended as to be 

 unable to regain its natural size or to withdraw the ejected 

 lobes. In a natural state in good situations I have never 

 seen them evolve the inflated lobes, but in muddy soils it is 

 not uncommonly done; there they are flaccid and unhealthy, 

 as they are in confinement. Dicquemare prefers this to 

 any other kind for the table, and recommends them to be 

 boiled in salt water, " when they will acquire a firm and 

 palatable consistence and may then be eaten with any kind 

 of sauce;"* but to an English palate they would offer no 

 very tempting dish. 



♦Johnston Brit. Zooph., p, 215. 



