150 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



organism. The vibrating bands which outline the 

 tiny animal are also visible. The delicacy of struc- 

 ture and difficulty of preserving these young star- 

 fish alive make these pictures of particular value, 

 especially as they were taken of the living forms 

 swimming in their natural element. Each day 

 and almost each hour adds to the complexity of 

 the little animal, lung tentacles grow out and 

 many other larval stages are passed through 

 before the starfish shape is discernible within this 

 curious "nurse" or living, changing egg. Then 

 the entire mass, so elaborately evolved through 

 so long a time, is absorbed and the little baby star 

 sinks to the bottom to start on its new life, crawl- 

 ing around and over whatever happens in its path 

 and feeding to repletion on succulent oysters. It 

 can laugh at the rage of the oysterman, who 

 angrily tears it in pieces, for "time heals all 

 wounds" literally in the case of these creatures, 

 and even if the five arms are torn apart, five star- 

 fish, small of arm but with healthy stomachs, will 

 soon be foraging on the oyster bed. 



But to return to our tide-pools. In the skim- 

 ming net with the young starfish many other crea- 

 tures are found, some so delicate and fragile that 

 they disintegrate before microscope and camera 

 can be placed in position. I lie at full length on 

 a soft couch of seaweed with my face close to a 

 tiny pool no larger than my hand. A few arma- 

 dillo shells and limpets crawl on the bottom, but 



