114 SOLASTERI.E. 



animal's will. In the very young Solaster papposa the 

 eye-spines are very large in proportion to the length of 

 the rays, forming nearly a third of their length ; and the 

 eyes are fully formed even then, appearing like large ver- 

 milion specks near the ends of the rays on the under 

 side. In a specimen of Solaster endeca, in which a ray had 

 been broken and regenerated, the eye was present, also the 

 eyelid, though not so prominent as usual. In cabinet 

 specimens of Solaster papposa the eyelids are frequently 

 destroyed by handling, their position rendering them very 

 liable to injury. 



The Solaster papposa varies much in colour. Some- 

 times the whole upper surface is deep purple. Frequently 

 the disk is red, and the rays white, tipped with red. I 

 once took a large specimen having the body entirely deep 

 red, and the spiniferous tubercles bright green, presenting 

 a very beautiful appearance. Beneath, it is generally 

 white, or straw colour. Very young specimens are alto- 

 gether white, with the exception of the red eyes. It 

 grows to a considerable size. I have taken several mea- 

 suring nine inches across, and Mr. Ball has found one 

 eleven inches broad. It is very ravenous, devouring 

 shellfish. Mr. W. Thompson has found a Cypraea and 

 Turbo Crassior in its stomach, — shells not often forming the 

 food of Starfishes. It frequents oyster and scallop banks, 

 often in great numbers, and sometimes colonises the sides 

 of harbours frequented by oyster-dredgers, in company 

 with Uraster rubens ; but while the Crossfish puts up with 

 this forced littoral habitation, the Common Sun-star soon 

 grows tired of his new position, and in a few days generally 

 leaves, probably seeking for deeper water, and a more 

 abundant supply of food. 



The Solaster papposa seems to be generally distributed 



