4-12 HISTORY OF 



but if they be left to the influence of the air, thf y are, in less 

 than four and twenty hours, melted down into limpid and offen- 

 sive water. 



In all of this species, none are found to possess a vent for theii 

 excrements ; but the same passage by which they devour their 

 food, serves for the ejection of their f;eces. These animals, as 

 was said, take such a variety of figures, that it is impossible to 

 describe them under one determinate shape; but in general their 

 bodies resemble a truncated cone, whose base is applied to the 

 rock to which they are found usually attached. Though gene- 

 rally transparent, yet they are found of different colours, some 

 inclining to green, some to red, some to white, and some to 

 brown. In some, their colours appear diffused over the whole 

 surface, in some they are often streaked, and in others often 

 spotted. They are possessed of a very slow progressive motion, 

 and in fine weather they are continually seen, stretching out and 

 fishing for their prey.* Many of them are possessed of a num- 

 ber of long slender filaments, in which they entangle any small 

 animals they happen to approach, and thus draw them into their 

 enormous stomachs, which fill the whole cavity of their bodies. 

 The harder shells continue for some weeks undigested, but at 

 length they undergo a kind of maceration in the stomach, and 



* The Asterias, or Star-fish Tribe. — These are inhabitants of the sea, and 

 are usually found on the sand, or among rocks on the sea shore, coraraouly 

 below liigh water mark. They are a numerous tribe, and subject to great 

 variety of form ; and differ materially in the number and construction of 

 their rays. Tlie covering is a coriaceous crust, which defends them from 

 tlie attacks of tlie smaller animals; and they liave five or more rays pro- 

 coeding from a centre, in which their mouth is situated. Every ray is fur- 

 nished with a prodigious number of tentaculae, or short, soft, and fleshy 

 tubes, which appear to be of use not only in taking prey, and in aiding the 

 motion of the animal, but also in enabling it to adhere to rocks and other 

 substances, by which it withstands the force of the waves. In a single ani- 

 mal the tentaculae have been found several hundred in number ; and, when 

 the star-fish are thrown on their backs, these may be observed to be pushed 

 out and withdrawn, in the same manner as snails do their horns. The pro- 

 gressive motion of the star-fish, which is performed by the undulation of 

 their rays, is very slow. J hey possess considerable powers of re-produc- 

 tion ; for if a ray happens to be broken ofl', in the coui'se of a short time h 

 new one will appear. 



1 he Hairy Asteria, or Star-fish, is not uncommon on the coasts of Great 

 Britain. The animal is coriaceous, with acute angles, and hairy. I he rays 

 are five in number, broad, and angiilated at top j rough, with short bristles : 

 its colour is brown. I'liis species is comniuu at Anglesea. 



