Let us turn, for example, to [Plate VIII.], and note the appearance of the two varieties of Actinia dianthus—the carnation-like Actinia, as its name imports—and we shall easily excuse our early naturalists their pretty but erroneous fancies concerning them. This species is more subject than many others to vary in colour, even like the flower after which it is named, being found of every tone between snow-white, orange, pale scarlet, and blood red—while some specimens take duskier tints, from a dull brown to a kind of orange green. But we will describe our illustrations of this genus in regular succession, noting what is most peculiar in the subjects of each Plate.
[Plate VI.] contains a representation of one of the last-discovered species of Actiniæ—one which displays a habit that distinguishes it from all its congeners hitherto described by naturalists, and which has entitled it to be classed as a separate genus, and named Edwardsia vestita. The generic name is from that of a well-known naturalist, and the specific name, vestita, from its habit of forming for itself a shell, or clothing, into which it has the faculty of retiring at pleasure; or, if an inhabitant of the shallow water, when the tide recedes, and leaves it inconveniently exposed to the air. This species, unless it have the power of quitting its shell, like some Molluscs, is of necessity permanently fixed and confined to the position in which the egg from which it was hatched was placed by the instinct of the parent, or the caprice of the waves. The other objects in [Plate VI.] will be described in another place.
Plate VII.
1. Actinia clavata.
3. Pennatula phosphorea.
4. A Shell of the Common Whelk, on which are two specimens of Balanus.
5. A group of Ascidians.
In [Plate VII.] we have two remarkable species; the one with drooping tentacles of dull brick-red, being a very curious variety. The species below is Actinia clavata, one of the most delicately-beautiful species, which, from its brilliant whiteness, at once attracts the attention.
In [Plate VIII.] are two varieties, previously described, of Actinia dianthus, the plumose or feather-like Anemone. In front, below them, is the representation of one of the most splendid of all the species, having received the specific name Gemmacea, from the gem-like appearance produced by the touches of colour—blue, buff, and brown—about the orifice of the mouth or stomach, and about its sharply-pointed tentacles. The stem or body is also variegated with rows of brightly tinted tubercles, and its whole surface is clouded with pale iridescent, or rather nacreous, tones of pink and azure, varied with occasional flashes of orange. All the species are furnished with tubercles of a similar description about the stem or body, but in many they are not so conspicuous, and in others almost imperceptible; yet they no doubt exist in all, as they are not merely ornamental, but essential organs, peculiar to this class of creatures; being reservoirs from which they can shoot forth a thread, furnished with a barbed and poisoned dart, by means of which they are able to attain an enemy, or victim, far beyond the reach of their tentacles. Mr. Gosse very graphically describes the death of a small fish struck by one of these thread-borne poisoned arrows, at some distance from the offended Actinia, who launched his dart, as it seemed, for no greater provocation than a slight disturbance of the water rather nearer to his retreat than was agreeable.