78 
and its upper surface is surrounded by several rows of var,< \ 
gated tentacnla. Tbo mouth is central, and surrounded b„ 
a thick lip of a reddish colour. This is marked at twjj 
opposite points with a radiating line of a light colour 
frequently of a rose tint terminating in white, but vary* 1 ’/' 
in different individuals. Beyond this lip is a narrow c ', rC j 9 
of white, more or less distinctly marked ; beyond this 1 
a darker surface, semi-transparent and surrounded by sever j 
rows of tentacula. The base of each tentaculum is embrac‘d 
by two red, and the inner row also by two white li°® ’ 
which converge on either side and cross the oral disc on ‘ 
one hand, and pass between the the bases of the tentac" j 
on the other. Each circle of tentacula is regularly 
with bars of carnation, lake, brown, yellow, and white, ' ^ 
such a manner that a series of coloured circles is fo rn J e , 
around the mouth ; so that when the animal is fully expand® 
it presents a scene of such remarkable brilliancy and bean 1 
as to rival even the flowers; but it is liable to so to* ^ 
variations in the arrangement and depth of the tints tb# 
description will serve only for a few individuals. The 
semblance to a flower is very great, and a stranger might. 
1)0 
excused for mistaking it. On one occasion while watch 
a specimen that was covered merely by a rim of water, . 
bee, wandering near, darted through the water to the vno* 
of the animal, evidently mistaking the creature for a 
and though it struggled a great deal to get free, was retai D 
till it was drowned and was then swallowed. 
VThen an individual of this species has been kept in c °[ ( 
finement for some time it gets flaccid and semi-transpai® a 
the lips become everted and several transparent str |a 
lobes become evolved, and sometimes to such an extent a9 ^y 
hang over the sides. Though this at first is done app» reD e , 
at the will of the animal and can be withdrawn at pleas' 1 ^ 
yet it appears to be in some measure a sign of disease 
the animal finally gels so flaccid and distended as }° . e i 
unable to regain its natural size or to withdraw the e ) eC ^ e t 
lobes. In a natural state in good situations I have ue j t js 
seen them evolve the inflated lobes, but in muddy soil 6 . y, 
not uncommonly done; there they are flaccid and unhea( j 0 
as they are in confinement. Dicquemare prefers th |= ^ 
any other kind for the table, and recommends them t0 3l) j 
boiled in salt water, “when they will acquire a ® rm j. ji)J 
palatable consistence and may then be eaten with any 
of sauce;”* but to an English palate they would ou 6 
very tempting dish. . 
* Johnston Brit. Zooph., p. 215. 
