The Starfish and Its Kindred 59 



the sky, starfishes In various stages of growth are cling- 

 ing to or crawling over the mussel-laden framework. 

 By the bright orange button, or madreporlte, near the 

 center of each animal's back, and which each individual 

 without exception carries, I recognize them all as be- 

 longing to the same species, Asterias forhesii. 



Directly beneath, just within reach, I see one un- 

 usually large creature. It measures easily a foot across. 

 Although long familiar with the appearance of As- 

 terias, I cannot refrain from lifting this Interesting 

 specimen to examine for the thousandth time Its curious 

 details. For, be It known, the starfish Is in many re- 

 spects unique among animals. Simple as It Is con- 

 structed. It is a never-failing object of wonder to the 

 novice and to the experienced naturalist alike. 



Perhaps Its most outstanding departure from other 

 animals Is In the method of Its locomotion. Laying this 

 creature upon its back, I observe its efforts to right 

 itself. It would seem that on account of Its rigid struc- 

 ture It would have some difficulty in accomplishing this 

 feat; but it can, in fact, perform some remarkable con- 

 tortions In spite of Its apparent inflexibility. For a few 

 moments It remains the picture of helplessness. Flank- 

 ing the deep groove that starts at the mouth and ex- 

 tends along the middle to the tip of each of Its five rays 

 Is a forest of little transparent tubular processes. 

 These slender processes are about three-fourths of an 

 Inch long, contractile, and very elastic; they are termi- 

 nated by a well-formed sucker, an expansion by means 

 of which they can be firmly fixed to any solid surface; 

 they are, in fact, the ambulacra, or so-called tube feet, 

 which are the actual organs wherewith the animal 



