THE COMATULA 173 



position is that of a spiral, and ere long each arm 

 adopts a form like a note of interrogation. Crowns 

 of different patterns are imitated, and all accomplished 

 with a grace that is indescribable. 



It will be imagined, therefore, that the rosy feather 

 star is one of Nature's most beautiful sights, well 

 worth seeking out, although generally most carefully 

 hidden in out-of-the-way places. But there is one 

 more movement which seems to surpass all others. 

 Suppose the creature wishes to raise itself in the 

 water. Instantly five alternate arms of the ten give 

 a downward sweep describing rapid S curves, whilst 

 the other five are incurved spirally. These then give 

 a similar downward sweep, whilst the first five assume 

 the incurved position, and so with alternate strokes 

 the creature raises itself in the water and hovers- 

 then it slowly sinks with all its arms upraised and 

 meeting at the tips. 



This attractive creature belongs to the Echinoder- 

 mata, a sub- kingdom of animals which includes 

 starfishes, sea-cucumbers, etc. Its proper place is the 

 Crinoids, the fossil representatives being called 'stone 

 lilies.' These fossil forms are found in such large 

 quantities as to cause geologists to name the rocks 

 after them, e.g. ' encrinite limestone.' The living 

 creatures had stalks, which enabled them to fix 

 themselves to the sea bottom, while the animal proper 

 resembled a starfish. The stalks and arms of the 

 creatures must have been made up of five-sided or 

 rounded segments, for on breaking up the encrinite 



