752 



The Living Animals of the World 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] 



SEA-CUCUMBER, OR BECHE-DE-MER. 



[Milj'ord-on-Sea. 



These animals are collected in vast quantities on the Australian Great Barrier Reef, smoked, and 

 sent to the Chinese market. 



outlying portions becoming 

 gradually absorbed. Some of 

 the brittle-stars and sea- 

 cucumbers bring forth their 

 young in the adult form, 

 nursing them from the egg in 

 special breeding-chambers. 



The capacity of a star-fish 

 to renew its lost arms is 

 commonly manifested. A single 

 detached arm, moreover, in such 

 a type as the common five- 

 fingered species, can reproduce 

 its body and the remaining four 

 arms. Fishermen, who are in 

 the habit of tearing up star- 

 fishes and throwing them back 

 into the water, under the im- 

 pression that they are thus 

 effectually incapacitating them 

 from further injury to their 

 oyster-beds, commit an error, 

 such mutilation tending to the 

 multiplication of their numbers. 

 In the matter of colour-ornamentation the Star-fish group is richly endowed. Allusion 

 to the brilliant crimson and pink-and-white tints of the British sun star-fish has been 

 already made. As with most animal groups, however, it is amid their tropical representatives 

 that the most striking colour-variations obtain. One form which is common among the coral- 

 reefs on the Queensland coast-line, and much resembles the common British " five-fingers " 

 in size and shape, is brilliant ultramarine-blue. Another large pentagonal species, belonging to 

 the group known as Cushion- 

 stars, has a golden-brown 

 ground, upon which are 

 thickly scattered small bead- 

 like tubercles of turquoise. 

 A third form, not un- 

 common on the Tasmanian 

 coast-line, which is nearly 

 related to the Bird's-foot 

 species, previously mentioned, 

 is distinguished by tints which 

 range through several shades 

 of crimson to brilliant violet. 

 Not a few of the star- 

 fishes are notable for their 

 eminent phosphorescent 

 properties. The group of 

 the Snake-armed and Brittle- 

 stars are more especially 



distinguished in this respect. f>">to by W. Saville-Kent, F Z.S.} [Milford-on-Sea. 



Many of these species PRICKLY SEA-CUCUMBER. 



OCCUr in Such numbers in This SP 60 ' 63 of bSche-de-mer commands a high price in China, and makes delicious coup. 



