Plate 88. 
ZOOPHYTES: VERMES. 
ECHINODERMATA. SEA-BLUBBERS, MEDUS. 
The Starfishes, Asterie#, may be divided into two sections — the radiated and the 
scutellated. In the former the rays, in number from 5 to 12, extend far beyond the central 
disc, while in the latter they are not so much developed, lying within the disc, which as- 
sumes the form of a pentagon. The rays are hollow and furnished on the under side with 
numerous suckers, which serve the double purpose of locomotion and enabling the animal 
to catch and suck its prey, which mostly consists of mollusks. In some species the rays | 
are very long and serpentine. The orifice of the mouth, which also serves for the anus, is in 
the centre of the disc on the under side. The Starfishes are found abundantly in every sea. 
The Ophiure, or serpentine starfishes, are distinguished by the extreme flexibility of 
their long rays, which are attached to the lower side of the rounded disc. Their move- 
ments are very rapid and dexterous. 
1. The Ophiura Fragilis, with five long rays, is found in the Atlantic and German 
Oceans. It is very fragile, but when it loses any of its rays they are quickly replaced by 
new ones. 
The Order of Encrinites, Crinoidea, is only represented by a few varieties now, alt- 
hough they were extremely abundant in former ages. 
2. The Medusa’s Head, Pentacrinus Caput Meduse, is found at great depths in the 
seas of the West Indies, growing on stony bottoms. It has a long, fiexible stem, at the 
upper end of which the actual body grows. This is in the shape of a cup surrounded by 
branching, twining arms. 
- 3. The Comatula Mediterranea, resembles the foregoing, except that it has no stem. 
It is found in the Mediterranean on a muddy bottom, and creeps along with the aid of its 
ten twining arms. — 
The Starfishes, properly so called, of which some 400 different varieties are known, 
are distinguished by their rays forming an immediate continuation of the substance of the 
central disc. 
A, The Asterias Papposa, one of the largest species, has 12 rays and is found on the coast 
of Normandy. The whole of the body is covered with a number of fasciculated excrescences. 
5. The Asterias Aurantiaca is a regular five-rayed star, about 4 inches in diameter 
and of a pomegranate color. 
6. The Asteriscus Verruculatus is an almost equilateral pentagon, with rudimentary 
rays, that do not extend beyond the disc. It is found in the Mediterranean. 
The Sea-blubbers form the first order of the very extensive family of radiated animals 
or Actinozoaria. Of great variety of form, their bodies are gelatinous and generally radiated, 
some of them being melon-shaped, others a simple disc or umbrella with long depending 
tentacles, which possess the power of stinging or numbing those smaller animals on which 
they feed, whence they have also received the title of sea-nettles, Acalephe. Their trans- 
parent bodies, which are either colorless or of a delicate pink or blue tint, vary in size in 
the different species from a microscopical minuteness to that of a foot in diameter. They 
inhabit the open sea and are generally found In shoals. 
7. The Cydippe Pileus is a ribbed species of sea-blubber, Ctenophora, the body resem- 
bling an apple or melon in shape and being striated from pole to pole with ribs formed 
uf delicate ciliated lamine, which serve for locomotive purposes. On each side there is a 
long, twining tentacle, which is endowed with the faculty of numbing. 
The very numerous family of tho Medusw, or umbrella-shaped blubbers, is spread over 
all the seas. The mouth is situated on the lower side and is surrounded with several thick 
tentacles with folded edges, besides which there are in many of the species a number of 
long, fine, hair-like tentacles, all of which possess the faculty of numbing and thus catching 
the animals, which form their food. 
8. The Pelagia Noctiluca is abundantly found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, ren- 
dering the water phosphorescent by night. 
9. The Rhizostoma Aldrovandi is one of the best known forms of sea-blubber, being 
extensively met with in the Mediterranean. In our illustration it is shown somewhat turned 
up, so as to show the form of the thick tentacles. It attains a diameter of upwards of a foot. 
10. The Berenia Carisochroma, a native of the South Sea, is almost a perfect disc, 
the edges of which are somewhat thickened. It has a great number of hair-like tentacles. 
11. Venus’ Girdle, Cestum Veneris, diverges very considerably from the preceding ex- 
amples, appearing like a broad band, about a foot long, and delicately fringed at its edges. 
It is found in the Mediterranean. ; 
12, The Physalia Atlantica is perhaps the most beautiful of all, having a sort of crest 
surmounting its body, which it spreads like a sail to assist its progress. It is most deli- 
cately tinted and about a foot in length, and is found in the Atlantic. 
