174 POPULAR HISTORY OF THE AQUAPvIUM. 



were unsym metrically short ; and examining these with a 

 lens, saw distinctly that each had been broken off and was 

 renewed, the new part agreeing in structure and colour with 

 the rest, but the joints were much less in diameter ; and this 

 difference was strongly marked at the point of the union, 

 the first of the new joints being not more than one-third as 

 wide as its predecessor. The appearance much reminded me 

 of a lizard renewing its tail/' 



The full-grown Peather-star generally frequents deep 

 water, but comes to shallow pools among the plants of 

 LaminaricB in breeding times. It swims by alternating 

 strokes of its arms, using them in the same manner as the 

 Medusm, raising itself from the bottom and swimming back- 

 wards. 



Ophiocoma bellis {OpJiiuridcB). 



The Daisy Brittle-star is among the most richly coloured 

 of radiate animals. Its central disc is pentagonal, orna- 

 mented above with variously arranged plates, intermingled 

 with spines, arranged in such a manner as to give a daisy- 

 like appearance to it. The rays are long, bordered by 

 spines in rows. They are beautifully banded. The Brittle- 

 stars are very difficult to obtain living and perfect, on ac- 



