74 Life Beneath the Waves. 



for the nourishment received by each mem- 

 ber of the family group passes into the 

 polypidom, and thus benefits not only the 

 receiver, but all his companions. When 

 facts such as these are taken into conside- 

 ration, the Alcyonium is not to be despised 

 or deemed uninteresting on account of its 

 frequent unattractive shape and appearance. 



Another submarine creature, apparently 

 devoid of attractions or pretensions to 

 beauty when out of water, is the Star- 

 fish ; and as it lies on the beach, in a limp 

 and lifeless state, it is certainly not a very 

 fascinating object; but a living specimen of 

 even the commonest kind is well worthy of 

 observation when placed in water. 



Starfish are provided with an immense 

 number of sucker feet, which they stretch 

 out and retract at will, and by means of 



