ASTERIA ARANCIA. 283 



parent, and become a separate asteria. If any of the rays 

 or arms are broken off, they regenerate, and grow again, 

 which fact may be seen in the engraving. The creature 

 had by some accident lost the fifth ray ; but the accretion 

 of a new one, small, and just growing out, is plainly to be 

 seen in the plate. Found by Captain Phipps at Spitzbergen. 



SPECIES III. 



ASTERIAS OPHIARA, 



THE LIZARD TAIL OR WORM STAR-FISH. 



This species is very common in the North Seas ; but the 

 one represented was found in the American Ocean. The 

 upper surface of this animal is composed of vertebral rings, 

 communicating a power of motion to the rays on every side. 

 They are membranaceous and very tender. Its colour is 

 blue in the natural state, but when dried becomes ash- 

 coloured. This species is found on rocks, and between 

 lumps of coral, to which it firmly adheres. It has very 

 quick motion. 



SPECIES IV. 



ASTERIAS ARANCIA. 



This is the Astropleten Echinatus Minor of Mr. Link. The 

 structure of this individual differs materially from the others, 

 althouo-h the rays spring from a point in the centre, and the 

 bones are placed in rows like the preceding, but more numer- 

 ous, and differing from each other in size. This species is 

 not rough, and the bones are laid flat by the sides of each 

 other, being only separated by deep notches. In the centre 

 part, where the five rays unite, the last vertebra of two of 



