244 ZOOLOGY. [Paet II. 



2. EADIATA. 



The eastern seas are profusely stocked with radiated 

 animals, but it is to be regretted that they have as yet 

 received but little attention from Enghsh naturahsts. 

 Dr. Kelaart has, however, devoted himself to the inves- 

 tigation of some of the Singhalese species, and has given 

 the fruits of his discoveries in the Journal of the Ceylon 

 Branch of the Asiatic Society for 1856-8. Our informa- 

 tion respecting the radiata on the confines of the island 

 is, therefore, very scanty ; with the exception of the ge- 

 nera ^ examined by him. Hence the notice of this exten- 

 sive class of animals must be limited to indicating a few 

 of those which exliibit striking pecuharities, or which 

 admit of the most common observation. 



Star Fish. — Very large species of OphiuridcB are to 

 be met with at Trincomahe, crawhng busily about, and 

 insinuating their long serpentine arms into the irregu- 

 larities and perforations in the rocks. To these they 

 attach themselves with such a firm grasp, especially when 

 they perceive that they have attracted attention, that it 

 is next to impossible to procure unmutilated specimens 

 without previously depriving them of life, or at least 

 modifying their muscular tenacity. The upper surface 

 is of a dark purple colour, and coarsely spined ; the arms 

 of the largest specimens are more than a foot in length, 

 and very fragile. 



The star fishes, with immovable rays^, are not by any 

 means rare ; many kinds are brought up in the nets, or 

 may be extracted from the stomachs of the larger market 

 fish. One very large species^, figured by Joinville in 

 the manuscript volume in the hbrary at the India 

 House, is not uncommon : it has thick arms, from 



^ Actinia, 9 sp. ; Antliea, 4 sp. ; I ^ Astcrins, lAm\. 



Actinodendron, 3 sp. ; Dioscosoma; I ^ Pentaccros ? 



1 sp. ; Peecliea, 1 sp. ; Zoantliiira, I 

 1 sp. I 



