86 UBASTERIvE. 



nine inches in diameter, and grows much larger. The 

 variations in the number of the rays of the Crossfish fur- 

 nished Link with many supposititious species. These varia- 

 tions are sometimes congenital, but more frequently the 

 result of injury. It has the power of reproducing rays 

 broken off ; and I add a figure of a very remarkable speci- 

 men, kindly communicated by Mr. Bean of Scarborough, 

 in which no less than four of the rays have been broken 

 off and are reproduced, giving from this small developement 

 a most strange and unradiate appearance to the creature, 

 converting it from a star into a comet. The oyster fisher- 

 men fancy that it loses its rays in consequence of its oyster- 

 hunting propensities, that it insinuates an arm into the 

 incautious oyster's gape, with the intent of whipping out 

 its prey, but that sometimes the apathetic mollusc proves 

 more than a match for its radiate enemy, and closing on 

 him holds him fast by the proffered finger ; then the Cross- 

 fish, preferring amputation and freedom to captivity and 

 dying of an oyster, like some defeated warrior, finding 



" The struggle vain, he flings his arms away, 

 And safety seeks in flight." 



This story has long been believed. Link gives a vignette 

 representing the mode of attack, with the motto, " Sic 

 strait insidias." Doubtless the Crossfish is a sworn enemy 

 to oysters, a submarine Dando ; but there is reason to 

 think he destroys his prey in a very different manner from 

 that just narrated. Starfishes are not unfrequently found 

 feeding on shellfish ; in such cases they enfold their prey 

 within their arms, and seem to suck it out of its shell with 

 their mouths pouting out the lobes of the stomach. They 

 can project the central parts of their stomachs in the man- 

 ner of a proboscis. Mr. Ball once found one embracing 

 a Mactra stultorum, which was pierced with a hole, and 



