SPINY CROSS-FISH. 79 



Asterias angulosa, Muller, Zool. Dan. II. p. 1, t. xli. ; Encyc. Metr. 



pi. cxix. f. 1. 

 Sol eclrinatus cancellatus, Link, f. 33, tab. xxxviii.-ix. Encyc. Metr. pi. 



cxvii.-xviii. 

 Stellonia glacialis, Ag. Prod. Forbes, Wern. Mem. vol. VIII. p. 123. 



„ „ Junior, 



Asterias spinosus, Pennant, IV. p. 62. Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 487. 



Pcntadaetyhsaster syrinosus, Link, p. 35, t. iv. No. 7. Encyc. Metr. pi. 119, 



f. 2, 3. 

 Stella Hihcrnica cchinata, Petiver, Gaz. t. xvi. fig. 5. 



The Starfishes of the genus Uraster are distinguished 

 from all others by having four rows of suckers in each 

 of the avenues which groove the rays beneath. In con- 

 sequence of the great number of these singular organs, the 

 under surface of a living Crossfish presents a sight truly 

 curious and wonderful. Hundreds of worm-like suckers, 

 extending and contracting, coiling and feeling about, each 

 apparently acting independently of the others, give the idea 

 rather of an assemblage of polypi than of being essential 

 parts of one animal. Sensitive in the extreme, if we touch 

 one of those singular tubes when outstretched, all those 

 in its neighbourhood are thrown into a state of agitation ; 

 and when it shrinks from our touch, changing from a 

 lengthy fibre to a little shrunk tubercle, some of its neigh- 

 bours, as if partaking in its fears, contract themselves in 

 like manner. If we cut one off, however long it may have 

 been at the moment of injury, all its power of extension 

 is instantly gone, and in an inconceivably short time it 

 changes its form, contracting into a little knob-like mass. 



The first species of this genus which we have to describe 

 is one easily distinguished by its very angular arms and 

 large strong spines. The Spiny Crossfish grows to a large 

 size. Mr. Couch describes a specimen, the diameter of 

 which across the disk and rays was no less than thirty- 

 three inches, the largest of the rays being fourteen inches 



