248 ZOOLOGY. 



30. Lucernaria. Body gelatinous, wrinkled, and provided 



with arms. 



31. Asterias. Sea-Star. Body contained in a flat, and 



mostly radiated coriaceous case or shell; which is 

 covered with numerous retractile tenlacula or papillece. 



32. Echinus. Sea-Egg. Body covered with a crustaccous 



shell ; mostly beset with numerous moveable spines. 



order iii. 



Te&tacea.—MOLLUSCA, 



covered with a calcareous shell or shells. 



This Order, to which tlie attention of Naturalists is now 

 generallydirected, forms a distinct branch of Natural History, 

 under the name of Conchology, it is composed of Animals, 

 for the most part belonging to some of the genera in the 

 preceeding order, but provided with hard external coats or 

 shells; from the great difliculty experienced in procuring 

 the inhabitants of the shells, they have by general consent 

 been classed from the various forms of their tenements. 



Many kinds are applied by Mankind to the purpose of 

 food, the shells of others are manufactured into various 

 useful or ornamental articles ; they feed principally on 

 molluscous animals, and small insects : some on vegetable 

 substances, and others on putrid animal matter ; and they 

 are devoured by various kinds offish, and the larger mollusca. 

 The order is subdivided into three distinct families ; compri- 

 sing in the whole, thirty-six genera. 



