ASTERIAS. Ill 



XXIV. fig. 1. About a fortnight afterwards I was surprised to detect 

 tliis specimen in tlie fact of devouring one of its smaller companions. 

 Part of the victim still hung from the mouth of its enemy. Not a frag- 

 ment was visible next morning, and in the evening some half digested 

 matter appeared. 



Thus was a new feature in the history of the species betrayed, — one 

 of which I had not entertained the least suspicion. Neither had I felt 

 any apprehensions regarding the safety of various subjects in the same 

 vessel under a course of observation. The same rapacious animal now 

 specified had previously consumed part of the common green fucus vege- 

 tating near the shore, which was rejected at night ; and next day it fed 

 copiously on mussel. 



Before the specimen above mentioned was devoured another small 

 one in the vessel had disappeared, which, though improbable, I supposed 

 to have crawled over the side. However, a fortnight after the preceding 

 fact, finding the same assailant attempting to satisfy its cannibal appe- 

 tite still on its third companion, considerably larger than the ostensible 

 victim, I could no longer doubt the fact. Thus it is impossible to pre- 

 sume on the indemnity of any specimens from the strength and voracity 

 of their neighbours. The fishermen believe that this animal devours 

 the Aster ias glacktUs. 



The dimensions of these creatures are much affected, augmented, 

 and reduced by the temperature of the atmosphere. From their noc- 

 turnal habits also, specimens are developed more amply towards night 

 than through the day. Their safety demands that the temperature of 

 the place where they are kept shall be very moderate. To the touch 

 they feel cold, and rough and disagreeable lilve a j)iece of shagreen. 



Adults of this species have usually thu-teen rays, which, as well as 

 other members, are developed originally, for they receive no additions 

 with age. A very minute specimen, under the eighth of an inch in 

 diameter, had fourteen. The conformation, or rather the proportions of 

 the animal are sUghtly modified in time. 



Perhaps the number of suckers in a row may be augmented with 

 age by new evolutions, but the rows, being two, belonging to each ray. 



