ECHINODERMATA 83 



The mouth of the starfish is small and it is there- 

 fore impossible for the animal to take much of its 

 food directly through the mouth. So, the hungry 

 starfish everts its sac-like stomach through its mouth 

 and places it between the two shells of the oyster. 

 Then digestive juices are secreted and the oyster is 

 digested and absorbed. Finally, the stomach is 



Fig. 12 

 Six-armed Starfish (Asterias forbesii Desor) 



withdrawn from between the oyster shells and is 

 returned within the body of the starfish. Rather a 

 peculiar method of eating, but a highly destructive 

 one to the victim! (Plate VII),. 



The oyster grounds of Long Island Sound are 

 particularly troubled with starfish. Fortunately the 

 great oyster beds of Maurice River Cove (Delaware 

 Bay) are relatively free from these pests, although 



