194 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
in deep water, and from one to ten leagues from the shore. It is very 
small, resembling both in shape and size a split pea. When living, its 
surface is plain but glandular, becoming corrugated when preserved. 
When semi-expanded, which is its favourite state, it elevates itself to 
twice its ordinary height, becoming contracted about the middle, like 
an hour-glass. When the creature is fully expanded, the tentacula 
become distended and elongated to about the length of the transverse 
Fig. 31. Phyllactis pra'toxta (I hum), natural size. 
diameter of the body ; and they are generally darker at their ex- 
tremities than towards the base. Like all the Actiniadse, the present 
species possess a power of considerably altering its shape : sometimes 
the mouth is depressed, and at others it is elevated into an obtuse cone. 
“ This is one of the most inactive of its order,” says Mr. A. Couch ; 
“ for, whether in a state of contraction or expansion, it will remain s° 
for many days without apparent change. In its expanded state » 
touch will make it contract, and it will commonly remain so for many 
