SOME CREEPING THINGS. 123 



But what if the clam will not open his shell? 



Ah, I cannot tell you that. I only know that 

 the stomach seems to have the power to make the 

 shells open; how, I do not know. It is the same 

 way with oysters as with clams; and so the 

 oyster-men hate the starfishes, and kill them if 

 they catch them around their oyster-beds. 



Well, we have learned some things; but there 

 are others which we do not understand. V 



True; but is it not often so, when we study the 

 wonderful objects of nature? Some time we will 

 dissect a starfish, harving first killed it by putting 

 it in fresh water, and then you will see very curi- 

 ous organs inside. 



We will take this one home, kill it, and wash 

 off all the salt, and then dry it for a few days in 

 the sunshine. If we do not wash off the salt, it 

 will gather moisture in damp weather, next win- 

 ter, and may spoil. And to-morrow, see if you 

 cannot find several other kinds to add to your 

 collection. 



Now, Mary, let us see your sea-urchin. 



Why, it is climbing, too, almost like the star- 

 fish, only its suckers are very long, and it has so 

 many long thorns sticking out all over its body. 



Very true. It is classed with the starfish on 

 that account, and they resemble each other in 



