28 THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



" At any rate," he mentally concluded, "as there is 

 nothing better to do I can but try it, and if it should 

 prove that I have not in me the stuff of which a 

 naturalist is made, I can forget it all when I enter the 

 express train on my way back to Paris." 



In this state of mind he went out into the garden, 

 accompanied by his friend Leon. 



Almost directly his foot touched the star-fish that 

 they had recently brought from the shore, and that 

 now lay motionless near the door of the workroom. 



" You told me that this what-do-you-call-it was 

 a radiate animal. Cannot you tell me something more 

 about it?" 



" Why trouble yourself about it ? " said Leon, smil- 

 ing. " You have already learned that it is not for 

 eating." 



" We do not eat it, I understand well, but I should 

 suppose it must eat for itself." 



" Undoubtedly, and in a most curious fashion." 



"As if there could be fifty ways of eating. I am 

 myself only acquainted with one the true, the only 

 way, as in point of fact we have just exemplified : 

 putting food into the stomach by introducing it to the 

 mouth, and if you are greedy or in a hurry, doing it 

 by two mouthfuls at a time. " 



" The star-fishes know better. The stomach itself 

 adopts the plan of coming to the food. Notice in the 

 centre of the fish, in the white part, an opening. Press 



