ASTERIAS. 109 



animal is indeed extraordinary ; the number, complexity, diversity, and 

 peculiarity of its parts are such as to render it vain attempting to specify 

 them in detail ; neither could the form be rendered more explicit, nor 

 its nature be better understood, than by the representations given here, 

 aided by brief description. Nothing short of actual inspection of the 

 living subject can satisfy the admiring and inquisitive contemplator of 

 the marvellous works of the Creator. 



Here the breadth of the disc is proportionally greater, and its form 

 more characteristic than in any of the preceding species. Thus the rays 

 are shorter ; nor does the general aspect of the whole animal bear much 

 conformity with that of the others. Everything denotes a tendency to 

 transition.— Plate XXIV., fig. 1. 



Specimens are of circular shape, and j^rovided with from eleven to 

 fourteen rays. Among many obtained at different times, the majority 

 had thirteen, which seems about the proper complement. 



Larger specimens expand from eight to ten inches between the tips 

 of the opposite rays. The whole upper surfiice is covered with tufts like 

 the short bristles of a small hair pencil, advancing in regular lines along 

 the sides of the rays. Another kind of pure white tufts stands across the 

 rays, erect, like the teeth of a comb. — Plate XXIV. fig. 2 : Portion of 

 the skin of a different specimen, enlarged. The whole under surface, 

 especially towards the centre, is of very remarkable structure. One part 

 is sufficiently obvious, being the wonted channel, with a double row of 

 suckers traversing each ray ; and eight or ten suckers, proportionally 

 longer, more flexible and active at the end of the rays, rather appearing, 

 by their stretching and searching around, to discharge a tentacular office. 

 Their structure is also somewhat different, whence stricter attention be- 

 stowed on them might discover whether they have truly any peculiar 

 province. The upper surface of the animal is wholly red ; sometimes 

 very fine scai-let, spotted white, from the presence of numerous subordi- 

 nate organs. — Plate XXIV. fig. 1. Besides a profusion of tufts, infinite 

 low small white prominences arise among them from the skin. In addi- 

 tion to all these are many whitish or yellowish tubular orifices, percep- 

 tible by the microscope, also on the surface of the disc. 



