•fectly organic beings or tlie animal kingdonij and these 

 relating to vegetable kingdom. 



Mr Y. de E,obillard who has made a special study of 

 those marine animals of such singular conf ormatioUj which 

 live as parasits on others^ has brought to our notice seve- 

 ral species of these radiated animals which are known under 

 the name of Asienas or Starfish. 



These peculiar creatures bear the name of Parasits, a 

 word signifying " to eat witli/^ Tlie appellation has been ■ 

 given to animals and plants_, which by their incomplete or- 

 ganization^ are forced to seek support from individuals of 

 other species which afford them protection,, and from 

 which they derive their subsistance. 



' He discovered^ for instance^ in a small sized Asterias a 

 little transparent shelly conical, slightly thrown backwards, 

 as a helmet. It is found on that single species of Astei-ias, 

 but on no other^ and M. de Ptobillard asks why this ? an 

 explanation it appears to him beyond the reach of human 

 intelligence. 



To the descriptions given by the same gentle man, we 

 must add five beautiful and curious species of Asterias 

 and a crustaceous parasite found on the gills of a IHodon. 



On the subject of those other animals so dreaded by 

 man in the sea, M. de E-. says : " If without arms and 

 " with only the tourist's stick, we are able to wander in 

 " our forests without the fear of finding ourselves face to 

 ^' face with carnivorous mammals or venomous reptiles, 

 ''' our coasts do not offer the sapie security.'" In fact v-q 



