30 TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 



fate as the other parts. The stomach of the ogre then 

 returned to its normal situation and the Asterias made 

 a fresh move to satisfy its appetite. So thoroughly 

 was this done, that in the course of a few days all the 

 mussels in the locality were exterminated. " 



" "What an appetite! This suggests to me another 

 question, not a very delicate "one. I understand 

 now how they eat, but what happens afterwards ? " 



" The sequel is of primitive simplicity. The stomach 

 having come out to take its meal, comes out again, 

 when digestion is completed, to free itself from the 

 residue. In this way it is never troubled by dyspepsia 

 or digestive pains. The star-fishes, I may say in 

 passing, have not taken out a patent for their diges- 

 tive process, or the sea-anemones do the same thing. 

 Another peculiarity I must show you: each star- 

 fish is a real Mother Gigogne. Look," and with a 

 stroke of his knife Leon opened one of the rays of the 

 star-fish. 



The inside was filled with eggs, not larger than a 

 pin's head. 



" How many eggs do you think there are in this 

 one ray ? " asked Leon. 



" At least two or three thousand." 



" About that ; there are ten or fifteen thousand in 

 the whole animal. But all the creatures of this kind 

 have another and still more curious way of increasing 

 their numbers. Sometimes one of the rays of the 



