XII. 



Starffsbes, 



"As there are stars in the sky, so there are stars in 

 the sea," remarks an old writer, whose knowledge of 

 things in general, if not very specific, was, at least, of a 

 fairly wide nature. The remark occurred to my mind 

 this morning when, during a stroll along the sea-beach, 

 I came upon a familiar " five-ray " lying in a truly help- 

 less condition on the sand. There is nothing more 

 helpless-looking in nature, I should say, than a star- 

 fish cast up on the sandy beach by the unkind waves. 

 Placed among rocks or near seaweed-clad pools, our 

 sea-star is quite at home. Even if, like a helpless 

 and floored turtle, he has been turned over on his 

 back, he will contrive to right himself, and escape to 

 his watery abode, or move with his slow and stately 

 walk over the rocks. But he seems to feel that the 

 sand is a disagreeable and shifty form of surrounding, 

 and he makes little or no effort to bestir himself, but 

 lies flaccid and limp until, perchance, the returning 

 tide sweeps him off into the welcome depths. 



My sea-star of this morning is lying face upper- 

 most in the sun, and, if he could pant as does the 

 higher animal, I have no doubt he would indicate his 

 resentment in that familiar fashion. As it is, you can 

 see the tube-feet, which exist in dozens in the grooves 



