ON INSECTS AND MARINE ANIMALS. 101 



three pairs of pores in each row, their number, 

 multiplied by six, and again by ten, would give 

 the great number of 3720 pores. The structure 

 of the sea-urchin is not less complicated in other 

 parts. There are above three hundred of what 

 may be called plates of one kind, and nearly as 

 many of another, all dove-tailing together with 

 the greatest nicety and regularity, having on 

 their surfaces above 4000 spines, each spine 

 being perfect in itself, and each having a free 

 movement in its socket. Its shell is composed 

 of 10,000 distinct pieces, so accurately joined 

 that the whole seems a single shell. Surely we 

 may exclaim that the skill of the Great Archi- 

 tect of Nature is not less displayed in the con- 

 struction of the sea-urchin than in the building 

 up of a world ! 



Let me now talk to you a little of the star- 

 fishes, or, as they are called in Ireland, " devil's 

 fingers and devil's hands," where they are some- 

 times collected in great numbers and used as 

 manure in gardens, and an excellent manure 

 they make. Now, I am aware that they are no 

 favourites with you fishermen. In my younger 

 days I used to like to go out early and catch a 

 whiting or two for my breakfast. Suppose me 



