Actinia. 
Z. HELIANTHOIDA. 
223 
The trivial name which I have bestowed on this species is intend- 
ed to indicate the place of its first discovery, Tuedia being-, according 
to Sir Robert Sibbald, the ancient name of the maritime parts of Ber- 
wickshire. It is not uncommon on that coast, but is found only in 
deep water, whence it is dragged up by the fishermen. I have often 
found the tentacula, in a separate state ? adhering to their lines ; and 
as these retain their irritability and motion for a long time, they are 
apt to be mistaken for independent and perfect worms, which they 
much resemble. 
Dr Turton has introduced into his Compendium of the British 
Fauna, p. 131, two species which I purposely omit. These are, 1. 
Actinia Caryophillus,* * * § for which “ Martin’s Marine Worms” is 
quoted, a work apparently very rare, and which I have not been able 
to procure ; 2. A. Anemonoides,-|' quoted from Shaw’s Natura- 
list’s Miscellany, tab. 26, 27. The plates referred to I have not seen, 
but I have looked over some volumes of the work, and I entirely 
agree with Dr Leach in thinking it contemptible and unworthy of ci- 
tation : the figures are in general copies from others, coloured from 
the descriptions, without a single hint being given that this is the 
case, and the colours are laid on in a patched and gaudy manner, only 
to be rivalled in the pictures which adorn the toy-books of children. 
Observations. 
The Actiniae adhere to rocks, shells, and other extraneous bodies 
by means of a glutinous secretion from their enlarged base ; but they 
can leave their hold and remove to another station whensoever it pleases 
them, either by gliding along with a slow and almost imperceptible 
movement, J as is their usual method ; or by reversing the body and 
using the tentacula for the purpose of feet, as Reaumur asserts, § and 
as I have once witnessed ; or lastly, inflating the body with water to 
render it more buoyant, they detach themselves and are driven to a 
distance by the random motion of the waves. They feed on shrimps, 
small crabs, whelks, and similar shelled mollusca, or, probably with 
indifference, on whatever animals are brought within their reach, and 
whose strength or agility is insufficient to extricate them from the 
grasp of their numerous tentacula, for as these organs can be inflect- 
* Stew. Elem. i. 394. Turt. Gmel. iv. 103. Pen. Brit Zool. iv. 106. 
f Turt. Gmel. iv. 101. Act. anemone, Pen. Brit. Zool. iv. 106. 
\ Reaumur found that they require an hour to advance one or two inches . 
but I have seen A. Mesembryanthemum advance at a rate considerably quicker 
— half an inch in about five minutes. 
§ Mem. de l’Acad. Roy. des Sc. 1710, p. 621. 
