ASTERIAS. 95 



more by investing the prey ; which is whoU}^ absorbed, on the mouth dilat- 

 ing for its reception. The mussel^ though sometimes rejected for iish 

 in preference, is usually acceptable. Under protracted abstinence, even 

 the fuci are not refused. If the portion of food be too large for the 

 mouth, the stomach, or a transparent internal membrane, protrudes and 

 applies to it, apparently absorbing the juices. The testacea, whether 

 univalves or bivalves, become a ready pre}". The Turbo and the 

 Pholas fall victims alike. A specimen, not content with seizing a small 

 nuissel introduced into its vessel, hastened to involve another. As the 

 prey is brought under the mouth, it is hemmed in by the limbs on all 

 sides, crushed asunder, or swallowed entire. If chancing to escape, it is 

 only from superior strength. Small fishes, small Echini, and even some 

 of its own genus are all among the sacrifices to the merciless voracity ol' 

 the Asterias glacialis. 



The colour and size are variable : the adult in perfection is of a fine 

 purple of various intensit}^ according to the specimen. That repre- 

 sented, Plate XVI., of half the natural dimensions, expanded completely 

 twelve niches between the opposite extremities of the tentacula. But 

 tlie young animal is white, and regenerating organs of the old are origi- 

 nally colourless, both in accordance with the laws usually regulating the 

 aspect of early pi'oductions. 



A small specimen, which might have been circumscribed by a circle 

 of three Unes diameter in the end of September, traversed the side of its 

 vessel vivaciously, and swam supine, fig. 2. Another small specimen, 

 expanding eight lines, and which was a hue thick, appeared perfectly 

 white on February 20, and very pale grey a month later, fig. o. At 

 this period, the tubercles disposed over the rays in longitudinal rows, 

 were well exposed under the microscope, fig. 4. The animal was vigor- 

 ous, and fed on mussel. But I felt perplexed as to its identity with the 

 species. In three more weeks, I thought the slightest tinge of purple 

 perceptible, and the fact was decided ten days later, when its expansion 

 equalled fifteen lines, or an inch and a quarter. Though hardly to be 

 preserved, owing to the heat of the weather about June 20, its increment 

 had still advanced, and the colour had become dark purple on July 11. 

 Being two inches in expansion, it was delineated, fig. 5. 



