The Starfish and Its Kindred 65 



saw that the wreckage was fast becoming covered with 

 them. They came singly and in groups; they came in 

 multitudes. From whence they came I do not know; 

 however, it is not improbable that the oyster beds near 

 the mouth of the harbor would show evidence of their 

 recent presence. Moreover all arrived by the same 

 means. They were swept along by the tidal movement. 



But why this exodus? Why this visitation to a spot 

 which can give bare support in the way of food or foot- 

 hold to such enormous numbers? Well, my guess Is that 

 this gathering of the clan had not to do with food but 

 with fertility. It was one of those instances, not uncom- 

 mon In the watery world, wherein marrlageless females 

 are nevertheless accompanied on their travels by at- 

 tentive males. 



Let us see. From the time the young starfish hatches 

 out of the egg until several weeks later when It settles 

 to the bottom, its appearance and its habits are totally 

 unlike those of the familiar adult. It Is a transparent 

 cluster of fingerlike processes, so minute as to be barely 

 visible; and it swims by means of short vibrating hairs, 

 or cilia, which cover Its body. During this period it is 

 carried about bv the tidal currents and waves or, as is 

 more frequently the case, it holds close to the shelter 

 of rocks, shells, seaweeds, and other nooks In the vicin- 

 ity of Its birthplace, thus lessening its chance of being 

 swept out to the open sea where it would ultimately 

 perish for want of proper food. But when the time for 

 the metamorphosis arrives, when it loses Its early, or 

 larval, form and becomes a perfect, though tiny, star- 

 fish, it Is no longer In danger of being carried out to 

 sea; it is enabled to cling fast to solid objects with Its 



