6o Dwellers of the Sea and Shore 



moves about. Now In turning over, it brings its tube 

 feet effectively into play. Twisting one or more of the 

 rays on one side until their tips are bent under the body, 

 so to speak, the tube feet at the extremities are thereby 

 enabled to get a hold of the wood of the platform. 

 Then by the successive attachment of the tube feet fol- 

 lowing farther inward on the rays, the starfish pulls its 

 bulk gradually but completely over. The whole move- 

 ment occupies a little less than a minute. 



Beyond this effort, it makes no further attempt at 

 any extensive maneuvering. Seemingly unable to use 

 its sucking feet on a dry surface, it remains on the spot 

 now well wetted by its dripping body. Yet its pertur- 

 bation at being out of its natural element is quite mani- 

 fest. On the under side of the tip of each ray can be 

 seen a tube foot, noticeably delicate and without a suck- 

 ing pad, extending here and there and then retracting, 

 as though carefully exploring the region within its im- 

 mediate radius. This operation is strongly suggestive 

 of a blind person feeling around with a cane. Nor Is 

 the comparison incapable of further development. For, 

 although able to distinguish light from darkness, the 

 starfish is, in the usual meaning of the term, blind; but 

 the suckerless tube feet are In every sense of the word 

 its feelers. These latter, by the way. In spite of their 

 resemblance to the true tube feet, are never employed 

 as such ; they are used only as organs of touch. Strange 

 — is it not? — that this creature has five eyes — one at 

 the extremity of each ray, a minute crimson speck — but 

 cannot see; is equipped with multitudinous feet, but Is 

 unable to progress faster than three Inches in a minute. 

 Nevertheless, notwithstanding its limitations. It tra- 



