ECHINODERMATA. 



293 



a young Holothuria without losing their organs. The bodies of certain 

 species are lubricated by an acrid and corrosive liquid : thus H. Oceania, 

 described by Lesson, which is about forty inches in length, secretes at 

 the surface of its body an irritating fluid, which produces an intolerable 

 itching in the finger which touches it. Nor can the inhabitants of the 

 South Sea Islands look at it without loathing. Fig. 119 represents 



Fig. 119. Holothuria lutea (Quoy and Gairnard). 



H. lutea, or the Stychopus luteus of Brandt, who describes as its distinc- 

 tive character three rows of tentacular feet on the ventral surface. 



We have spoken of the strange suicidal tendency of the sea-stars : 

 the Holothuria exhibits the same phenomena, but, having no brittle 

 envelope like the asterias, it cannot break itself into bits in the pre- 

 sence of its disconcerted enemy; but kills itself in this manner: 

 having some cause of grief and trouble such, for instance, as the 



