EASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. 



25 



diameter, regularly scattered ; outer ones much smaller, very crowded ; mouth often prom- 

 inent at the summit of the protruded disk, oblong, provided with seven lobes or folds on 

 each side, with the largest lobe at the posterior end. 



Colors of the column arranged in eight broad, longitudinal stripes of cinnamon-brown, 

 alternating with somewhat narrower ones of gray, the whole surface irregularly sprinkled 

 with small dark brown spots, darkest just below the tentacles ; mouth bright yellow, sur- 

 rounded by a ring of purple or crimson, outside of which the disk is bluish gray, often with 

 alternately lighter and darker radiating lines ; inner tentacles flesh-colored, with a dark spot 

 at the base, four or five dark brown spots or bands on the upper half, and a longitudinal line 

 of white on each side ; outside of these are others similarly colored but with less distinct 

 dark markings, having bright red tips ; the next are orange-yellow with red tips but with- 

 out distinct dark spots ; while the outer ones are nearly white, sometimes with yellow bases 

 and a small spot of red at the tips. According to the drawings of Prof. Agassiz a large 

 specimen about 3 inches high and 1.75 in diameter has the tentacles colored as follows : 

 72 inner banded tentacles, of which 24 are larger and without red tips ; 144 orange-colored 

 with red tips ; 288 outer ones, which are in great part white, making a total of 504. (Coll. 

 Mus. Comp. Zool.) 



Near Charleston, S. C, living on shells inhabited by hermit-crabs (L. Agassiz). 



This species is more brilliant in its colors than any other known American species, and 

 when fully expanded the blending of the hues of the variegated tentacles around the 

 brightly colored central area produces a very beautiful effect. From the observations of 

 Prof. Agassiz it appears to be a very active species, contracting powerfully on irritation. 



A specimen from alcohol on dissection has the lamella? broad at the upper portion and 

 thickened with strong muscular fibres ; towards the base they are narrowed, leaving a large 

 central cavity, but the principal ones suddenly expand again below, so as to meet at the 

 centre of the base. The ovaries are in clusters low down on the lamella? ; the acontia at- 

 tached to their upper part, not very numerous. The peripheric pores of the lamella? are 

 well developed, and near their upper edges. The walls are very muscular, both trans- 

 versely and longitudinally. 



A form at first thought to be a distinct species, and originally named A. guttata Ag. MS., 

 but afterwards supposed by Prof. Agassiz to be the young of this species, was also ob- 

 served and drawn at Charleston in 1849. The column is light reddish brown with ver- 

 tical rows of brownish orange spots, and a lighter band just below the tentacles. The 

 disk is light brown, with a yellow ring around the mouth and a flake-white line cross- 

 ing it in a line with the longest diameter of the mouth and running up on the bases of 

 two opposite inner tentacles. The inner tentacles are greenish yellow ; the outer ones 

 yellow with white lines. Two specimens were observed about half an inch high when 

 expanded, the largest one with about 200 tentacles. 



Sub-family Antheid^e. 



Actinince (pars) Milne-Edwards, Coralliaires. Family Antheadw G'osse, Actinologia Bri- 

 tannica. 



This group is distinguished principally by its elongated, non-contractile tentacles, and 

 the absence of suckers, verruca?, and other appendages upon the walls. The genus Aip- 



MEMOIRS BOST. SOC. NAT. HIST. Vol. I. 7 



