134 



THE HAEMONIES OF NATURE. 



star,' says Edward Forbes, ( often congregates in great numbers 

 on the edges of scallop banks, and I have seen a large dredge 

 come up completely filled with them ; a most curious sight, for 

 when the dredge was emptied, these little creatures, writhing 

 with the strangest contortions, crept about in all directions, 

 often flinging their arms in broken pieces around them ; and 

 their snake-like and threatening attitudes were by no means 

 relished by the boatmen, who anxiously asked permission to 

 shovel them overboard, superstitiously remarking that "the 

 things wern't altogether right."' There can be no doubt that, 

 thanks to this facility of dismemberment, the brittle-stars disap- 

 point many a hungry foe of at least part of his meal, and wriggle 

 out of his reach while he feasts on one of their cast-off arms. 



The locomotive appara- 

 tus of the true star-fishes 

 is of a much more compli- 

 cated structure than that 

 of the snake-star; for as 

 they are born not to swim, 

 but slowly to creep along 

 upon the bottom of the sea, 

 the grooved under-surface 

 of their arms is provided 

 with two or four rows of 

 small worm-like suckers, 

 which, alternately extend- 

 ing and contracting, serve 

 to drag the body after 

 them. The strength and 

 activity of these little or- 

 gans afford an entertain- 

 ing spectacle when a star- 

 fish is placed on its back 

 in a plate filled with sea- 

 water. At first the crea- 

 ture remains motionless ; 



fo ^ offended by the rough 



treatment it has undergone, the feet have all shrunk into 

 the body, leaving nothing visible but a series of minute tuber- 

 cles, but soon they are seen to emerge like so many little worms 



Tnferior view of Astenas Rubens, 



At A part of the feet is removed. mouth, c spines. 



