STAR-FISHES. 171 



COMATULA ROSACEA. 



The ^osy Feather-star is one of the most beautiful objects 

 in nature, and is most interesting on account of a curious 

 feature of its animal economy. Alewed from above, it is 

 seen as a radiating circle of ten feathers, with a smaller 

 central circle of filiform appendages. This smaller circle 

 hides the union of every two feathers in one joint. In fact, 

 there are five double plumose arms. The feathery appear- 

 ance is produced by piinise on each side of the arms. The 

 pinnse are jointed, and end in a kind of claw. Besides 

 being of an elegant form, the Eosy Teather-star is splendid 

 in colour, being of a bright pink, spotted with brown, while 

 the arms are fringed with transparent cirrhi. 



Those who study geology are famihar with an object called 

 the Stone-lily, or Lili/ Uncrinite,wh.ich. is a kind of lily-shaped 

 Star-fish growing upon a stem composed of calcareous rings. 

 The nearest recent analogous form in Europe was presented 

 by the discovery of a little pedunculated animal of the Cri- 

 noid race, by Mr. J. Y. Thompson, in the year 1823. The 

 top, or head and arms of this little Stone-lily, was seen to 

 bear some resemblance to the Teather-star, presenting just 

 such an appearance as that species might do if placed on a 



