196 
ZOOPHYTA HELIANTHOIDA. 
elegantly fringed and radiated flowers, such as the Carnation, 
Marygold, and Anemone.” The language of Le Sueur in re- 
spect of the tropical coral-bearing tribes is still warmer. The 
little polypes of Porites astroi'des, when in blow, remind him of 
a field enamelled with small flowers ; and of them in general 
he says, — 44 Quand la mer est calme, c’est un spectacle admira- 
ble que de voir les belles couleurs veloutees qu’ils etalent : elles 
imitent les tapis les plus riches et les plus varies. Pres d’eux 
se montrent des gorgones et des serpules dont les houpes 
blanches, jaunes et rouges, brillent de l’eclat le plus vif, et des 
amphitrites qui elevent au-dessus de Peau leur tete couronnee 
de palmes enrichies des teintes les plus variees. Je ne pouvois 
me lasser d’admirer avec quelle profusion ces animaux sont 
groupes et enlaces : c’etoit a regret qu’apres m’etre promene 
long-temps au milieu d’eux je me determinois a les arracher du 
sein des eaux, et a en mettre des fragments dans un baquet, que 
je faisois de suite transporter chez moi pour examiner a loisir 
les animaux particuliers a chacun des polypiers.” * — It is only, 
however, when they lie with their upper disk expanded and 
their tentacula displayed, that they solicit comparison with the 
boasts of Flora, for when contracted the polypes of the madre- 
pores conceal themselves in their calcareous cups, and the Ac- 
tiniae hide their beauty, assuming the shape of an obtuse cone 
or hemisphere of a fleshy consistence, or elongating themselves 
into a sort of flabby cylinder that indicates a state of relaxation 
and indolent repose. 
The Actinia gemmacea is the only species which the anato- 
mist has yet examined with care, f but it may safely be chosen as 
the representative of its order, the probability being that the 
deviations from its structure in the other species and genera are 
only of secondary consequence. Of the species mentioned Mr 
Teale has given a very elaborate anatomy, J more correct and 
minute than any hitherto published, but the sketch to suit our 
design, must be of a more general character. 
* Memoires du Museum, Tom. vi. p. 272 and 287. 
f M. Delle Chiaje has, it seems, anatomized several other species, but I have 
no access to his works. Bull. des. Sc. Nat. xvii. 470. 
t “ On the Anatomy of Actinia coriacea, by Thomas Pridgin Teale,” in 
Transactions of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, Vol. i. 
