thing: the ophiuran is fond of flesh. But not as I 

 had deducted from Fact Number One in this chap- 

 ter, does it subsist on living meat. Let it now be 

 known : our pretty serpent-star is a scavenger. The 

 game it bags must already be dead; and it seems 

 to like it better when it is rather "high." It is 

 doubtful if it could capture anything that moves, 

 if it would. Its fragile frame is not adapted to the 

 pursuit of prey. In the battle to maintain its place 

 in a region of darkness and pressure, it was de- 

 prived of the weapons that prevail with those of 

 its kindred who dwell in the light. 



Thus it will be observed that the hypotheses I 

 built on Fact Number Two and Fact Number 

 Three have also partly fallen flat. And now we 

 come upon something concerning Fact Number 

 Four and Fact Number Five and the accuracy of 

 the remaining deductions. 



As I have pointed out, but five serpent-stars are 

 visible. It would not, however, be hard to guess 

 how and where the others are employed. A move- 

 ment in the mud at several places on the bottom 

 indicates the presence of one or more individuals. 

 They make their way here and there under cover 

 with the same object in view as their brethren 



[72] 



