EASTERN COAST OF THE UNITED STATES. 



17 



the two that are in a line with the mouth being the broadest ; occasionally the other four 

 are indistinct or wanting ; sometimes these are fainter, while radii extend to those of the 

 second cycle ; inside of the mouth light orange. 



The largest specimens that I have observed were about two inches high in full expan- 

 sion, and one and a fourth across the disk, with the tentacles about the same in length. A 

 specimen, half an inch across the disk, had forty-eight tentacles ; another, one quarter inch 

 in diameter, had thirty-six tentacles, and the colors of the adults ; one, only one tenth of an 

 inch, had some tentacles of the third cycle developed, with the star on the disk represented 

 by six white spots, two of them largest. The young, when excluded, have usually twelve 

 tentacles, and average about one twelfth of an inch in diameter. (Col. Mus. Comp. Zool.) 



Cape Elizabeth, Me., in pools near low-water mark, buried to the tentacles in sand ; East- 

 port, Me., and Grand Menan, N. B., in crevices of rocks near low-water mark. 



This beautiful species resembles B. gemmacea of Europe in many respects, and may well 

 be considered the American representative of that species. A comparison that I have had 

 an opportunity of making at the Museum of Comparative Zoology between living speci- 

 mens of B. gemmacea, sent from the Free Public Museum of Liverpool through Captain J. 

 Anderson, and B. stetta, obtained at Cape Elizabeth, Me., by Mr. E. S. Morse, has enabled me 

 to ascertain the specific characters of the two species. 



In B. gemmacea the tentacles are more numerous, and smaller in proportion to the size of 

 the body ; the verrucas are more numerous and crowded, and the marginal ones are less 

 prominent ; the colors are in vertical bands on the column, and the tentacles are varie- 

 gated, while in B. stetta, at least in all the specimens yet observed, the color of the column 

 and tentacles is uniform light greenish, or flesh-color, sometimes with white bands, or basal 

 spots, on the latter. The six white lines radiating from the mouth across the disk seem, 

 also, to be a constant and characteristic feature of B. stetta, since they could be traced in 

 almost every specimen that I have observed, — even in young ones not more than one 

 fourth of an inch in diameter. 



Its favorite situation appears to be in the fissures and crevices of ledges and rocks, over- 

 grown by fuci and other sea-weeds, in the lower portion of the littoral zone. In such j)laces 

 it is often found in great profusion lying in a flaccid, half-expanded state' while the tide is 

 out. It thrives well in confinement, and makes a very elegant appearance when expanded. 

 It appears to be most active during the night, but will frequently remain in full expansion 

 during the whole day. 



Bunodes cavernata Vereill. 



Actinia cavernata Bosc, Histoire Nat. des Vers (1802) ; 2d ed. vol. ii. p. 260, pi. 12, f. 2 (1830, apparently the young). Actinie 

 cavernate Bosc, Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, i. p. 163, pi. A. 4 (1816, same figure as the preceding). Actinia cavernata 

 Gibbes, Fauna of South Carolina, p. xxiii., no description (Appendix to Tuomey's Geol. Survey, 1816). Actinia cavernosa Mc- 

 Crady, Proc. Elliott Society of Charleston, S. C, i. p. 275 (1858). 



The column is short, cylindrical in expansion, capable of contracting into a hemispherical 

 form, densely covered with prominent, persistent papillas, arranged near together in ver- 

 tical series, well developed even at the base, the upper, marginal ones somewhat larger and 

 lighter colored. Tentacles numerous, subequal, the longest less than the radius of the disk, 

 (about one half an inch long in large specimens,) crowded in numerous indistinct rows near 

 the margin, rather thick, tapering from near the base to the acute points. Mouth capable 

 of eversion, rather long, narrow, provided with several lateral folds. 



Color of the body dull yellowish, or greenish brown, with numerous small dark brown 



MEMOIRS BOST. SOC. NAT. HIST. Vol. I. 5 



