394 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
thickness of the film in contraction is not more than one-tenth of 
an inch. As the polyp contracts into its stellate aperture, its mouth 
gapes, apparently the more readily to give exit to the water in its 
interior. It presents the aspect of an octagon with hollow sides 
when about the level of its cell. Eows of spicula project from the 
corners towards the centre. 
If further extended, the tentacula, their pinnse, and the rows of 
spicula become more apparent ; oral aperture dilated ; outline of 
oral disc similarly octagonal, though much larger. 
When still further extended, a coiling of the arms is frequently 
seen, like the circinate vernation of the ferns. 
In a state of full expansion, the polyp is elongated and narrowed 
towards the head, measuring more than half an inch from the tips 
of the tentacula to the base. The tentacles can be stretched to 
more than twice the diameter of the oral disc, are narrow and 
tapering, and have the elongated pinnae at each side ; the tips are 
slightly opaque, probably from minute suckers. The tentacles 
are also roughened by minute spicula, which do not, however, go 
further than the base, where a pale, unspiculated portion occurs ; 
below this the neck of the polyp is supplied with long spicula 
with tuberculated edges, arranged in an arrow-shaped manner. In 
those polyps which are best expanded, the diameter of the oral 
disc is smallest. Sometimes, from the position of the parts, the 
tentaculum with its pinnse presents a spindle-shaped appearance. 
Note on two New Species of the Genus Edwardsia. 
Edwardsia Allmanni, n. s. — Found on the beach at St Andrews 
after an October storm. This actinia inhabits a very apparent free 
tube. The tentacles can be retracted, and the external border of 
the disc pouted over them. The disc is marked by eight alcyonian 
divisions or radii, and has always a ragged border of the investing 
sac. The colour of the disc is pale brown or dark flesh tint. 
Tentacles simple, rather blunt, pale and translucent, with a white 
streak in the centre. The rim of the mouth occasionally protruded 
as a conical process. 
Case composed of a vast number of diatomacem, entangled in a 
basis of tough cells and granules, developing algse and debris of 
