T H E S T A R . F I S K. 527 



Tuity, In the fmall red-headed earth-worm, both extremities furvivcd 

 the operation ; the head produced a tail with the anus, the inteftines, the 

 annular mufclc, and the prickly beards ; while the tail in lefs than three 

 months fent forth a head, heart, and inftruments of generation. This 

 part was produced (lowly, a new head taking three or four months for its 

 completion, a new tail not fo many weeks. 



The Sea-Worm, the white water-worm, and many of thofe little 

 worms with feelers, found at the bottom of dirty ditches, are capable of 

 theiame. 



THE STAR-FISH, or SEA-BLUBBER. 



TH I S is a numerous tribe, Ihapelefs and deformed, afTuming at 

 different times different appearances; now round like a ball, 

 fiiortly after as thin as a plate. This kind are formed of a femi- 

 tranfparent gelatinous fubftance, covered with a thin membrane, and 

 often appear like a lump of jelly, floating at random on the fea, or thrown 

 by chance on the Ihore ; yet they poffefs life and motion, and (hoot forth 

 arms in every direction to feize on fuch infefts as are near. Worms, filli 

 fpawn, even muflels, with their Ihell, have been found in the ftomachs 

 of thcfe animals, which arc no way injured by fwallowing fuch hard fub- 

 ftances. 



In fummer, when the water of the fea is warmed, they float, and in 

 the dark emit a kind of Qiining light refembling phofphorus. Some 

 call them fea-nettles, becaufe they fting the hands of thofe that touch 

 them, like nettles. They are often fecn faftened to the rocks, and to the 

 Jargeft fea-fliells. If put into fpirit of wine, they will continue many 

 years entire; but if left to the influence of the air, they are, in lefsjiian 

 four and twenty hours, melted down inio limpid and offcnfive water. 



None poffefles other vent for excrements but the fame pafTage by which 

 they devour their food : in general thfy relemble a truncated cone, its 

 bafe applied to the rock to which they are ufually attached. Though 

 generally tranfparent, yet they are of different colours, fome inclining to 

 gceen, or red, or white, or brown. In fome, the colours appear dif- 

 fufcd, others are often ftreaked, and others fpotted. Many of them pof- 

 fcfi a number of long flender filaments, in which they entangle fmall ani- 

 mals. 



