So the real wonder of the serpent-star's exist- 

 ence is not that it has gone no further in its evolu- 

 tion, but that it has gone as far on the road as it 

 now is. 



IV 



Although the young of my serpent-stars have 

 sufficiently served the purpose I have set about to 

 accomplish, I shall not leave the interested reader 

 in ignorance of their future development. More- 

 over, I think they have something to offer that will 

 well repay our consideration. 



Returning then to a period about a fortnight 

 after the fertilization of the eggs, we find that the 

 plutei, or free-swimming larvae, have formed. 

 They looked like — but how can I describe them? 

 Perhaps the best way I can describe them is to say 

 that they looked exactly like nothing else in the 

 world but others of the same kind. 



Now I am going to attempt a most unusual 

 method of description; I am going to request of 

 the reader that he on his part aid in the attempt. 

 If he will first hold his either hand before him with 

 the palm toward his face, and next bring the tip 

 of the thumb over to the base of the little finger, 



[106] 



