150 LECTURE X. 



two other smaller ones } and each of these, at a 

 somewhat farther distance, into two others, still 

 smaller; this mode of regular subdivision being 

 continued to a vast extent, and in the most beau- 

 tiful gradation of minuteness, till at length the 

 number of extreme ramifications amounts to se- 

 veral thousands. By this most curious structure, 

 the anirnal becomes, as it were, a kind of living 

 net, and is capable of catching such creatures as 

 are destined for its prey, by the sudden contrac- 

 tion of all its innumerable ramifications, and thus 

 the object is secured beyond all power of escape. 

 For examples of this animal I must refer to the 

 British and Leverian Museums. 



The Sea-Stars jn general have a very consider- 

 able degree of reproductive power, and if injured 

 "by accidental violence, or if one or more of the 

 limbs be cut or torn off, the animal will in time 

 be furnished with new ones. They wander about 

 the ocean in quest of prey, more particularly near 

 the shores, and feed not only on the softer sea-ani- 

 mals, but on the smaller shell-fish. Their mouth, 

 which, as I before observed, is situated beneath, 

 is armed with hard and sharp teeth, resembling a 

 Jcind of spines, and converging towards the centre 



