64 A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEAS 



appendages on its undersurface takes a firm grasp of 

 some convenient stone or seaweed. The whole animal 

 is of a delicate " blush rose " or mauve tint and presents 

 a beautiful spectacle when gathered together in large 

 quantities. Fully-grown specimens are about four inches 

 across. 



The creature's ancient ancestry is evinced in its early 

 days, when, like most animals, it bears a strong resemblance 

 to its primitive forerunners. It begins life as an elliptical 

 larva, which propels itself by means of hairs and after 

 a time anchors itself by one end to the sea floor, when its 

 upper portion develops a jointed limey stalk tipped with 

 a crown of ten feathery arms. Each arm bears throughout 

 the entire length of its upper surface a groove lined with 

 myriads of lashing hairs that keep a constant current of 

 water flowing towards the central mouth, thus bringing 

 food particles within its grasp. The Sea Lilies live thus 

 for some time until at last the branched arms with a mouth 

 at their centre break free and lead an active wandering 

 life, leaving the stalk behind. 



The True Starfishes have the mouth and grooves 

 arranged in much the same manner, but with the leaves 

 turned downwards in the opposite manner to the Sea 

 Lilies. The stomach and other organs lie in sections 

 within the arms, whilst the grooves are lined with four 

 rows of hollow " tube feet," which by being alternately 

 filled or emptied of water propel the creature over the 

 ground. The armature may be in the form of scattered 

 lime crystals, as in our Common Starfish, or form a jointed 

 continuous coat of plates as in the Sand and Brittle Stars. 

 All are predacious and the rays may be attenuated to mere 



