73 
. The shape of this species is subject to variation, being 
e 'ther conical or cylindrical. The cylindrical, the C. Sessilis 
°1 Bellamy, is low and may be said to be blended with the 
r ° r k on which it stands : while the conical ones, which have 
'* foot-stalk, when arrived at a certain size, may frequently 
removed by the fingers. This I considered to be the 
f urbinolia Borealis of Dr. Fleming, which is described as 
eing “ widely conical and slightly bent,’' and said to become 
( ’®tached by age, but Dr. Johnston tells me it is the C. 
"®ithii of his work. 
ZOANTHUS. Cuvier. 
generic Character : Polype mass compound ; polypes dis- 
tant, united at their bases by a trailing fleshy band, or 
, broad fleshy base. Animal an Actinia. 
^OANTIIUS COUCHII. Johnston. Polype-mass com- 
pound ; polypes distant, when contracted hemispherical, 
'rhen expanded, pedunculated, united at their bases by 
a n encrusting fleshy band; tentacula in several circles. 
I’l. xv., fig. 2. 
Hah. On flat slates and rocks in deep water from one to 
leagues from the shore, throughout the Cornish part of 
le British Channel. Common. 
This, in being compound, differs from all other European 
®Pecies of the order, and approaches very closely in form to 
' e Actinia sociata of Ellis. It is a very small species, and 
^tiiposed of a number of Actinia; united together at their 
as es by a ihiD, encrusting fleshy band. It is of a light 
V®dy or opaque red colour, and its surface is minutely glan- 
I u ‘ a r. In its contracted state it is sub-conoidal ; resembling 
in shape and size a split pea. When living, except that 
I is glandular, its surface is plain, but when preserved it 
v ec onies corrugated. When semi-expanded, which is its fa- 
a ° llr ite state, it elevates itself to about twice its former height 
becomes contracted about its middle into an hour glass 
U p per portion is lighter than the lower, and the 
'JT’erior or oral surface is marked by a central depression 
j! r ®omh, and from it radiate to the circumference, numerous 
te Ws of whitish glandular looking bodies, which are the 
'hacul a in a contracted stale. When the creature is fully 
^Panded, the tentacula become distended and elongated to 
t| Juu t tb e length of the transverse diameter ot the body ; and 
are generally darker at their extremities than towards 
a “ base. Like all the Actinia;, the present species possesses 
is ] Wer ot considerably altering its shape; most frequently it 
(; 0 11 '■be shape of an hour glass, at others the oral surface is 
®hl- tra ° tec * t0 a n >cre point, and then occasionally, is again 
^ ai ged to nearly twice the size of any other part ; sometimes 
®outh is depressed, and at others is elevated into an 
