138 ASTERI.E. 



north. This equally applies to five and seven rayed ex- 

 amples. At one time I fancied the five-rayed Luidia was 

 a distinct species, conceiving that in a genus approaching 

 the OpMuree we should probably find a greater specific 

 constancy in the number of rays than in the other Asteri- 

 adce, such constancy being a family character among the 

 Ophiurse, and a generic character in the preceding genus 

 Asterias. But as accompanying definitive characters are 

 absent, I prefer regarding the five-rayed specimens as 

 variations of the ordinary or seven-rayed form. It is the 

 wonderful power which the Luidia possesses, not merely 

 of casting away its arms entire, but of breaking them vo- 

 luntarily into little pieces with great rapidity, which ap- 

 proximates it to the Ophiuree. This faculty renders the 

 preservation of a perfect specimen a very difficult matter. 

 The first time I ever took one of these creatures I suc- 

 ceeded in getting it into the boat entire. Never having 

 seen one before, and quite unconscious of its suicidal 

 powers, I spread it out on a rowing bench, the better to 

 admire its form and colours. On attempting to remove 

 it for preservation, to my horror and disappointment I 

 found only an assemblage of rejected members. My con- 

 servative endeavours were all neutralised by its destructive 

 exertions, and it is now badly represented in my cabinet 

 by an armless disk and a diskless arm. Next time I went 

 to dredge on the same spot, determined not to be cheated 

 out of a specimen in such a way a second time, I brought 

 with me a bucket of cold fresh water, to which article 

 Starfishes have a great antipathy. As I expected, a Luidia 

 came up in the dredge, a most gorgeous specimen. As it 

 does not generally break up before it is raised above the 

 surface of the sea, cautiously and anxiously I sunk my 

 bucket to a level with the dredge's mouth, and proceeded 



