BOOK VII. 

 KADIATA. 



THE STAR-FISH. (Asterias, or Uraster rubens.) 



THIS animal is often found adhering to rocks on the sea- 

 shores. The common species is furnished with five rays, 

 and is of a yellow or red colour. It has a slow progres- 

 sive motion, and is often found on the beach among sea- 

 weeds after a storm. 



Mr. Bingley describes an animal of this kind, which 

 he kept by him for some time alive ; it had more than 

 four thousand tentacula on the under sides of the rays. 

 These it frequently retracted, and again pushed out, as a 

 snail does its horns ; and by means of them it was ena- 

 bled firmly to adhere to the dish containing the salt-water 

 in which it was kept. Whenever he touched the tenta- 

 cula with his finger, all those of that ray or limb were 

 gradually withdrawn, but those of the other rays were 

 not in the least affected by it. 



There are many other kinds of Star-fishes, especially 

 in warm climates. Amongst our native species we may 

 notice the Great Sun Star (Solaster papposa) with a large 

 disc and thirteen short rays; the Luidia fragilissima with 

 five long rays, which it usually casts oft' immediately on 

 finding itself in danger, so as to render it a most diffi- 

 cult matter to obtain perfect specimens of this species. 

 The Feathered Star (Comatula rosacea) is also deserving ot 

 mention. This is a small species, with the arms distinct 

 from the body as in the last species and jointed, but fur- 

 nished with numerous slender jointed tentacles which 

 give them the appearance of plumes. There are ten ot 

 these arms and the number of little calcareous joints 

 contained in them is most astonishing. The small cup- 

 like body of the Feather Star beajs other slender jointed 

 appendages, by means of which the creature clings to 

 the rocks with its mouth and arms directed upwards ; 

 and in the young state it is even supported on a jointed 

 stalk, from which it eventually casts itself free. 



