40 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAEIUM. 



beauty of the intricate net-work they possess will be 

 very apparent even under the moderate magnifying 

 power of the ordinary hand-lens. 



Mr Wood mentions a very ingenious method of 

 procuring a perfect skeleton of the Star-fish. This 

 is, by taking an individual and placing it near an 

 ant's nest. In the course of a few days, it will be 

 found that the ants have nibbled the soft parts com- 

 pletely away, leaving the skeleton as clean as if it 

 were an osseous one, carefully dissected, and after- 

 wards incarcerated in spirits. 



Thought already to have observed, that wherever 

 Star-fishes are introduced into the Aquarium they 

 ought to be very young specimens, unless the tank is 

 of a considerable size. 



