DEPARTMENT OF MARINE BIOLOGY 



Frlitnr? I Prof. C. H. Batchelder. Orono 



L.U110I b I ^^ g, j^.^ ^^^jj^ j^ ^ Rockland 



THE STARFISH 

 By E. W. Gould, M. D. 



The following interesting address upon the Starfish was 

 delivered by Dr. E. W. Gould at a recent meeting of Knox 

 Academy of Arts and Sciences: 



The starfish is commonly known as "five fingers'' pre- 

 sumably for the reason that a starfish consists of a central 

 body from which extend five rays or fingers. This is the gen- 

 eral rule but not absolute as specimens are known to exist 

 with seven, nine and 10 rays, the specimen with 10 rays 

 that I had the good fortune to see and examine fresh as it 

 came from tlie water was some twelve inches, measuring 

 from the distal point of one ray to that of its opposite fellow. 



According to the experiments made by Prof. A. D. Meade, 

 starfish possess a prodigious digestive function. He reports 

 tjiat in six days a single starfish devoured more than 50 

 clams, the clams being about the length of one of the rays 

 of the star, a little more than eight clams each day, or one 

 clam for each three hours. The preparation for the banquet 

 is an arduous, continuous, performance, exertion without 

 cessation. The starfish approaches his victim with a slight 

 movement, a gentle caress, a touch with one of his many 

 tentacles, which is the kiss of death. This is followed by 

 another and another until the shell or valves of the clam 

 or scallop is nearly encircled in the fatal embrace of this 

 master mechanic, whose arms or rays are equipped with 

 many tentacles which are attached to the shell of the doomed 

 mollusk by the power of suction at the exact point on the 

 shell where the least amount of contraction will accomplish 

 the desired result. With an inborn knowledge of anatomy, 

 the position invariably taken in anticipation of the coming 

 feast, the mouth of the starfish is nearly opposite the shell 

 edges just below the hinge at the byssal notch in readiness 

 for their release. With the first gentle pull in opposite di- 

 rections, made by the enclosing rays, comes a premonition 

 of the struggle in store, and at once occurs a contraction of 

 the adductor muscle of the alarmed mollusk, which action 

 brings valves close shut to prevent the entry of the sinister 

 visitor. But the gentle, insistent pull, with no respite, soon 



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