108 THE SEA-SHORE 



PLATE XXXV 



THE BIRD'S-FOOT STARFISH (2) 



This is a very curious starfish, and a very 

 handsome one as well. It is curious, because 

 its five rays are all joined together by membrane, 

 very much like the toes on a duck's foot. That 

 is why it is called the " bird's-foot " starfish. 

 And it is handsome, because it has a scarlet 

 centre, a scarlet line all round the margin, and 

 another one down the inner margin of each ray, 

 all the rest of the body being bright orange. 



The bird's-foot starfish is not very often seen, 

 for it lives some little way below low-water 

 mark. But sometimes, when there has been 

 a violent storm at a season of spring-tide and 

 you will remember that spring-tides come when- 

 ever there is a new moon or a full moon it is 

 flung upon the beach by the retreating waves, 

 and you may find it lying on the sand when the 

 tide is out. 



PLATE XXXVI 



THE SUN STARFISH 



Sometimes you may find a very much larger 

 and handsomer starfish lying upon the shore. 

 It has twelve rays instead of five, and is often 



