STAE-FISHES. 177 



dissolve his corporation, and at every mesh of the dredge 

 his fragments were seen escaping. In despair I grasped at 

 the Largest, and brought up the extremity of an arm with 

 its terminating eye, the spinous eyelid of which opened and 

 closed with something exceedingly like a wink of derision/' 



Uraster RUBENS. — (Plate XYII. upper figure.) 



The well-known common Cross-fish is most generally 

 seen of a huffish colour, although it is sometimes bright 

 orange, purple, or red. It has generally five rays, which 

 are rounded and taper to a point. The back of the disc 

 and arms are spinous. The principal row of spines on the 

 centre of the rays forms a kind of keel. The canals under- 

 neath are bordered by spines, and by adhesive, ambulatory 

 suckers. At the extremity of each ray the eyes are found 

 surrounded by a circle of movable spines. The mouth is 

 protected by spines. 



Of this species, Mr. Gosse gives an account, in reference 

 to its suicidal propensities, of a case that came under his 

 observation. That gentleman had a specimen five inches 

 long which had been dredged in Weymouth harbour. When 

 first put into the tank, the specimen appeared quite at home 

 and was quite lively. It had five rays, two of which were 



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