THE STAR-FISH. 549 



STAR-FISHES; ASTERIAD^E. 



LEAVING now the Echini, we pass to the next large group of Echinodermata, called 

 scientifically Asteriadse, and popularly known as Star-fishes. These creatures exhibit in 

 the strongest manner the radiate form of body, the various organs boldly radiating from a 

 common centre. 



Many of these creatures are exceedingly common, so plentiful, indeed, as to be intensely 

 hated by the fishermen. Of these, the common FIVE-FINGERS, ASTERIAS, BUTTHORN, or 

 CROSS-FISH, is perhaps found in the greatest numbers. All Star-fishes are very wonderful 

 beings, and well repay a close and lengthened examination of their habits, their development, 

 and their anatomy. There are sufficient materials in a single Star-fish to fill a whole book 

 as large as the present volume, and it is therefore necessary that our descriptions shall be but 

 brief and compressed. 



To begin with the ordinary habits of this creature. 



Every one who has wandered by the sea-side has seen specimens of the common Five- 

 fingers thrown on the beach, and perhaps may have passed it by as something too common- 

 place to deserve notice. If it be taken up, it dangles helplessly from the hand, and appears 

 to be one of the most innocuous beings on the face of the earth. Yet, this very creature has, 

 in all probability, killed and devoured great numbers of the edible mollusks, and has either 

 entirely or partially excited the anger of many an industrious fisherman. 



To begin with the former delinquency. It is found that the Star-fish is a terrible foe to 

 mollusks ; and, although its body is so soft, and it is destitute of any jaws or levers, such as 

 are employed by other mollusk-eating inhabitants of the sea, it can devour even the tightly- 

 shut bivalves, however firmly they may close their valves. On looking at a Star-fish, it will 

 be seen that its mouth is in the very centre of the rays, and it is through that simple-looking 

 mouth that the Star-fish is able to draw its sustenance. 



Even if it should come upon a mollusk which, like the oyster, is firmly attached to some 

 object, it is by no means disconcerted, but immediately proceeds to action. Its first process is 

 to lie upon its prey, folding its arms over it, so as to hold itself in the right position. It then 

 applies the mouth closely to the victim, and deliberately begins to push out its stomach 

 through the mouth, and wraps the mollusk in the folds of that organ. Some naturalists think 

 that the Star-fish has the power of secreting some fluid which is applied to the shell, and 

 causes the bivalve to unclose itself. But, whether this be the case or not, patience will always 

 do her work, and in time the hapless mollusk surrenders itself to the devourer. In the case 

 of smaller prey, the creature is taken wholly into the mouth, and there digested. 



A very remarkable effect of the voracity of the Star-fish is often seen in specimens. It is 

 not an unusual occurrence, that Star-fishes had managed to swallow entire a bivalve mollusk, 

 and had dissolved out all the soft parts from the shell. This they were unable to throw out, 

 as is the custom of Star-fishes, and, in consequence, the empty shell of the bivalve became 

 a fixture within the body of the Star-fish. 



The second delinquency of the Star-fish is achieved as follows : By some wonderful 

 power the Star-fish is enabled to detect prey at some distance, even though no organs of sight, 

 hearing, or scent can be absolutely defined. When, therefore, the fishermen lower their baits 

 into the sea, the Star-fishes and crabs often seize the hook, and so give the fisherman all the 

 trouble of pulling up his line for nothing, baiting the hook afresh, and losing his time. 



The fishermen always kill the Star-fish, in reprisal for its attack on their bait, and for- 

 merly were accustomed to tear it across and fling the pieces into the sea. This, however, is a 

 very foolish plan of proceeding, for the Star-fish is wonderfully tenacious of life, and can bear 

 the loss of one or all of its rays without seeming much inconvenienced. The two halves of the 

 Asterias would simply heal the wound, put forth fresh rays, and, after a time, be transmuted 

 into two perfect Star-fishes. 



It often happens that the lounger on the sea-shore finds examples of this species with only 

 four or even three rays, and, finding no vestige of a scar to mark the place whence the missing 



