SPECIAL ItEPORT ON THE 8TAREISII, 



]5Y A. D. MEAD. 



The investigation of the habits and hfe-histoiy of the starfish 

 has been coutinned dnriug- the past year, along' the Knes originally 

 laid down by the Commission, and published in the last Iiej)ort. 

 The observations were made principally at the Kickemnit river, 

 where the honse-boat, moored over one of the oyster beds, served 

 as a floating laboratory. Through the courtesy of the United 

 States Fish Commission, in extending to me the privilege of the 

 Woods Holl Station, and in giving me the use of one of the steam 

 launches, I was able to make some observations upon the starfish 

 of Buzzards Bay, and of other portions of Narragansett Bay. 

 From the oystermen I have received valuable information and as- 

 sistance, and on every occasion the kindest treatment. 



The problems with regard to the starfish, which were originally 

 suggested to me for solution, and which formed the basis of my 

 report for 1897, are given below in full, together with the additional 

 information which I have been able to obtain since writing the last 

 report. Occasionally, when the context requires it, a brief ab- 

 stract is given from the former report. 



IDENTIFICATION AND DISTEIBUTION. 



I. Does the animal, I'mnon to our fishe7Tiien as the starjis/i,, or 

 five-finger, helong to one or to several species f {It is evident that, if 

 there are two or more species, artficial or natural agents destructive 

 to one may 2>rov€ quite harmless to the others.) 



