Of the Polype'^ Arms. 43 



Kind with Spikes upon its Arms, rang'd in 

 certain correfpondent Orders. 



He alfo gives an Account of the Stella 

 Marina arbor efcens^ or branched Star -Ft fi^ 

 taken in the Weft-Indies. It is, he fays, above 

 a Foot Diameter. The Mouth in the middle 

 is divided into five Lips. The Figure both 

 of this and of the Trunk or Body is pentan- 

 gular. The Diameter of the Trunk almofl 

 three Inches. The Sides grow thin from the 

 Mouth to their Edges, which are fo many ex- 

 a6t Hyperbola'^. From the five Corners of 

 the Trunk as many Branches being produ- 

 ced, are prefently each divided into two 

 others, about an Inch in Compafs^ round, but 

 by a double Row of little Knobs feeming to 

 be fquare. Each of thefe are again fubdivi- 

 ded into lefTer and lelTer Branches, the laft 

 whereof are fcarce thicker than a Horfe-hair. 

 In Number, by a moderate Eftimate, above 

 a Thoufand. 



As he fwims, he fpreads and ftretches out 

 all his Branches to their full Length ; but fo 

 foonas he perceives the Prey within its Reach, 

 he hooks them all in, and fo takes it as it 

 were in a Net. 



This Sort of Star-Fifli has a long Pipe or 

 flender Body, extending from the middle of 

 its Arms, like the Form of our little Poly^ 

 fes : and, when in the Sea, can certainly ex- 

 tend its Branches fome Yards in Diameter. 

 The fine Extremities of the Arms, are, when 



dryed. 



