ANIMAL FLOWER, OR SEA ANEMONE of marine animals, systematically called Acti yd2e, belonging to the order MouxscA, and class of VERMEs of Linnxus, and defined by him, body, oblong, cylindrical, fleshy, contractile, fixed by the base : mouth, terminal, expansile, surrounded with numerous cirri, and without any other aperture. In the clagsification of Couvier and Dumeril, the ACTINIZ rank among the ZOOPHYTES. SCC Above forty species of these animals have been de scribed, many of which arc extremely beautiful, both from the vivid and variegated colours, red, green, yellow, and orange, which distinguish them, and also from the delicacy and elegance of their figure, Plate XXV. Some resemble a flower, such as that compared to a marigold by Hughes, in his Natural History of Barbadoes; and another kind has been found in the island of St Domin go, by the Chevalier Lefebure des Hayes, which is not inferior in beauty to a full-blown rose. A slender stalk rises from the rocks, washed by the sea, which diverges at the summit into thirty-six petals, each attached to the pedicle, and together forming a flower displayed.
From the external appearance of the actiniie, and also the property of contracting itself, and unfolding the numerous tentacula surrounding the mouth, it has de rived its name. Most of the species with which we are acquainted, are of a cylindrical figure ; but a few, in addition to those just mentioned, are funnel, or trum pet-shaped, or like a fig, and some approach more to an angular than a cylindrical form. All these animals are firmly attached by the base to rocks within the flowing of the sea, or stones among the sand. Several species dwell in the holes or cavities of the rocks, displaying themselves fully when the tide reaches them, but sud denly retreating on the approach of danger, and closing themselves firmly up when the sea recedes. Their ad hesion is so strong, that they may be torn asunder be fore they voluntarily separate from these various sub stances. Many species are found in the Frith of Forth, on which we have made long-continued experiments and observations.
That of the actinic= are solitary ; but the sociata, and the two already described, are found in clusters. The size is extremely various., from the which is about the size of a large pea, and is said to be the principal • food of the. whales in the north seas, to others which are six or seven inches, and even more, in diameter. Full grown actinix are susceptible of an extraordinary de gree of inflation, though the real substance composing their body is very small in quantity : a noose being cast over the body of a large one, and pulled tight, the ani mal contrived to withdraw itself, and left the circle only six lines in diameter. Its body consists of a thin hollow
membrane, which may be blown up like a bladder, and the air thus blown in by the mouth distends the tenta cula. The great inflation of the animal apparently de pends solely on the quantity of water imbibed ; no two are found of equal size, probably on that account; and, from what we have observed, we apprehend, that the growth of the animal is extremely slow.
The actinix are remarkably voracious : one of them will devour a substance half as large as itself, the body being then distended far over the base. Their food con sists of fish, crabs, muscles, and other marine animals : and they also greedily swallow flesh, which, after a con siderable interval, is rejected in one piece, of an ovoidal figure. The long retention is a certain indication of the health of these animals. It is said, that the devoured muscles and crabs are disgorged with the shells close, though their substance is consumed. Of the former, we have seen some escape unhurt after being retained se veral hours. The animal flower is capable of very slow progression only, and lies in wait for its prey, spreading abroad its numerous tentacula, which are susceptible of exquisite feeling. While the tentaculi are thus dis played, the moment one of them touches the prey, it, by some means unknown to us, adheres ; another is imme diately applied, 'and the rest successively, until the vic tim, if living, is overpowered, and literally swallowed alive. Probably the tentacula are perforated, and closed at the extremity by a kind of sphincter, which may be opened at the will of the animal, and allow the water in flating it to escape. Notwithstanding their extreme vora city, the actinia can endure long-protracted abstinence. They survive above a year, perhaps considerably longer, without any sustenance, but what invisible particles dis seminated in the sea-water may afford. Then they dimi nish in size, and if the water is not renewed for months, they generally become close and contracted, frequently casting off exuvix, and seldom or never displaying the tentacula. But they immediately expand on a new supply, and soon appear as healthy and vigorous as ever.