79 



SEA-CARNATION. A. Dianthus. Body cylindrical, 

 smooth, oral disc expanded, lobed, with numerous irre- 

 gular tentacula ; outer row shortest and forming a fringe. 



Hydra dianthus, Stewart's Elem., vol. 2, p. 451. Actinia 

 dianthus, Ellis and Solander's Zooph., p. 7, no. 9. Turton's 

 Lin., vol. 4, p. 104. Fleming's Brit. An., p. 498. Stewart's 

 Elem., vol. 1, p. 394. Johnston's Brit. Zooph., p. 216, 

 pi. xxviii. Actinia pentapetala, Pennant's Brit. Zool., vol. 4, 

 p. 104, A. plumosa, Turton's Lin., vol. 4, p. 100. Stewart's 

 Elera., vol. 1, p. 394. 



Hab. Common in pools, within low water mark ; Pol- 

 perro, Talland sand bay, East Coombe, Gorran, Fowey. 



This common species is to be found in the crevices of 

 rocks in pools between tide marks. It is gregarious, and 

 the large and small, old and young indiscriminately mix 

 together. In a contracted state it is sub-conoidal, the apex 

 of the cone being rounded and depressed. The surface is 

 smooth, or but faintly striated in a longitudinal manner. 

 The most prevailing colour is a chesnut brown ; but it is 

 sometimes of a pale ash, whitish or yellow tint. When 

 brown : it bears a very great resemblance to the A. Mesem- 

 bryanthemum in a contracted state. When expanded the 

 body is columnar, but is liable to variations from unequal 

 contractions of the longitudinal and circular muscular 

 fibres. The circumferance of the oral surface is generally 

 contracted into from three to eleven festoons. The tentacula 

 are very numerous and short ; the longest are the most cen- 

 tral, and the shortest the most external, forming a mere 

 fringe. The upper surface being thus lobed and fringed 

 with short tentacula generally variegated with bars of yellow, 

 brown, light blue, green, &c, which are very beautifully 

 blended, has a very soft and rich appearance ; sometimes 

 however the tentacula are of a pale ash colour with their 

 bases brown. The intervening space between the mouth 

 and tentacula is plain and smooth ; and it is either of a 

 brown colour or variegated with radiating bands of brown 

 and cream colour. The mouth is central and oval, and 

 the lips are generally of a bright vermilion colour, but this 

 varies in different localities. When expanded this is a very 

 beautiful species. The studded sea flower, certainly exceeds 

 it in the brilliancy and contrasts of its colouring, but for 

 beauty, richness, and softness in its tints, it is without a 

 rival. 



Though decidedly gregarious, it is not so much so as the 

 next. It prefers the crevices of the open pool, rather than 

 the narrow deep and hidden ones as is the habit of the next 

 species. 



