345

Tahiti

1835

Fungia (1334) I kept these Specimens for a short time alive. I observe, that the tentacula are placed at the inner extremity of each ray.— The tentacula are short, are surmounted by a slightly enlarged head, are sometimes expanded with water, are very sensitive, are seated on the upper rounded part of the extremity of the ray.— from them vessels converge towards the mouth.— Each ray or plate has only one Tentaculum.— as these plates are very numerous towards the margin there the tentacula are most numerous.— None are seated on the lower side.—

[sketch]

The mouth has longitudinal folds on its inner lip.— Within the cavity may be seen that delicate kind of folded drapery as described in Caryophyllia. In some points of the fleshy substance between the plate which were cut & injured, similar delicate membranes were protruded.— This fleshy part, when undisturbed, projects equally with the margin of the plates.— It has considerable powers of contracting & motion.— either vertically downwards or towards the central mouth.— The Tentaculum being touched, whole of soft part contracts itself. Found in shallow water within the reef.—

[345v]

(a) The form of mouth & indeed whole animal identical with Actinia.