SOME CREEPING THINGS. 121 



No; they are not legs, but from the under side 

 of each of these points there are coming out a 

 great number of little tubes. These tubes, or 

 water-feet, act like suckers, and hold on very 

 firmly; but when the creature wishes, he can 

 withdraw them. And by reaching out new tubes 

 in front and drawing in those behind, he is able 

 to creep slowly, but very surely, up the side of 

 the jar. In the ocean, he can creep over rocks 

 or go where he pleases. 



But what are the five points for, since they are 

 not legs? 



I will tell you. Do you see the creature's 

 mouth in the center of his body, on the under 

 side? 



Yes, sir. 



Yet he has no teeth, and so he cannot crush 

 his food. But he can do one very curious thing. 

 He can throw his stomach out of his mouth, and 

 digest his food outside of his body, and then draw 

 the stomach back again. I once saw a starfish 

 eating a clam in that singular manner. 



But what kept the clam from slipping away? 

 — for the starfish has no hands to hold him? 



Precisely; but he does have five points to his 

 star, and he bends these points around the clam 

 and seizes the shell with the little suckers, and 

 then with his mouth he can do what he pleases. 



