228 OYSTERS, AND ALL ABOUT THEM. 



forces the liquid into the cylinder, which is consequently 

 stiffened, and can be used for the purpose of locomotion. 

 When the pressure upon the bag of fluid is relieved, the 

 water returns back to its receptacle, and the cylinder 

 becomes limp and contracts. In spite of the .great number 

 of these ambulacral organs, the star-fish does not move 

 any quicker than other inhabitants of salt water, which 

 possess only one foot or none at all. 



" The month of this creature opens immediately into the 

 stomach, which is a large sac, from which a chamber 

 passes into each arm. These prolongations of the stomach 

 are in reality intestines. Star-fishes are very voracious. 

 They engulf their prey while still living, in a single morsel, 

 and the flesh of them is poisonous." 



That the asteria plays an important part as the scaven- 

 ger of the sea ; that he loves all kinds of dead flesh, and 

 shows a wondrous activity in discovering and devouring it, 

 we know ; that he can have no difficulty in devouring, 

 whole, small Crustacea and molluscs, we also know ; but 

 how, in the name of wonder ! does the star-fish get at the 

 dainty morsel so firmly locked in the ostrean larder ? 



There are more ways than one of eating an oyster, 

 and the mode adopted by the echinoderm forms a most 

 strange and wonderful illustration thereof. Its mode of 

 proceeding is thus graphically described by the late re- 

 nowned naturalist, the Rev. J. G. Wood (Longman's Maga- 

 zine, June, 1889). 



" No one would have thought, on placing an oyster and 

 a five-finger side by side, that the star-fish was a relentless 

 foe to the oyster. Those who can remember their first 

 fruitless endeavours to open an oyster may naturally won- 

 der how the star-fish can achieve such a feat. As I have 



