genera belonging to the Mollufca, that of Adtinia is 
perhaps the moft elegant and curious. Many fpecies 
of this genus have been called by the name of Sea- 
Anemonies, from a general refemblance which they 
bear, during their expanded date, to that flower. The 
fpecies here reprefented, feems in a peculiar manner 
worthy of this name. I have therefore given it the 
title of the Anemone Aftinia. 
Though extremely common on fcveral of the Euro- 
23oean coafls, and on our own in particular, it does not 
feem diftindtly mentioned by Linnaeus in the Syftema 
Naturae. It adheres firmly to the rocks, fo as to be 
frequently left above water at the ebbing of the fea; 
but it is generally found adhering at fome little depth 
below the furface of the water. Its general colour is 
a deep red, more or lefs vivid in different fpccimens, 
and of the fize reprefented in the annexed plates. 
When in a flate of contra&ion, (as at Fig. 1.) it has 
the appearance of a very obtufc cone, with an orifice at 
the top, which it can at pleafure clofc entirely; but 
which is generally fo far open, as juft to exhibit a few 
of the interior branchy Lcniacula or central parts. (Fig. 
2.) but when expanded, it prefents a moft curious and 
beautiful appearance, (Fig. 3.) it then difplays a triple 
row of circular tentacula of an oblong form, with ob- 
tufe points, of a yellow colour, and varied with red in 
l'uch a manner as to bear a very confiderable refem¬ 
blance to the flower from which it is named. In this 
flate the central tentacula are not protruded, but a 
large cavity appears in the middle, into which, if any 
extraneous fubftance is introduced, or even if any oi 
the 
