Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/185

144 a difficult matter to clear them away, proves that even the most callous parts of the human skin offer no impediment to the entrance of those subtle weapons, the barbed threads, though their poisonous properties are too feeble to be appreciated by our nerves.

This species (Actinia parasitica of Couch) takes rank among the largest of our native Actiniæ, being only exceeded by fine specimens of A. dianthus. It frequently attains a height of four inches, and a diameter of two and a half. It is of a columnar form, nearly equal in diameter throughout, but commonly a little expanded at the base, which slightly spreads over the substances to which it adheres.

The colouring of the body, though subject to some variation, always maintains such an uniformity of style and pattern as to render it easy of identification at all times. Indeed I know of no species which is less liable to be mistaken for any other than this. The ground-colour is a dirty white, or drab, often slightly tinged with pale yellow; longitudinal bands of dark wood-brown, reddish, or purplish brown, run down the body, sometimes very regularly, and set so closely so as leave the intermediate bands of ground-colour much narrower than themselves: at other times these bands are narrower, more separated, and variously interrupted or broken. I have seen a variety in which the bands took the form of chains of round dark spots, the effect of which was handsome. Immediately round the base the bands usually sub-divide and are varied by a single series of upright oblong