AS I KICI AS. N 



Thus, tin- position of tin- iiviiriiiin, or rather of tin- o\ aria, for all 

 have more than one. is determined by the species. 



In the Aftertax //'///;//* and ru/nm, they occupy a large portion 

 of tlio five ra\s, each ovarium of the latter growing to a great size: 

 those of ,l>/</-"M iirnni-iiii-ii In-long to the origin of the ra\s m-xt the 



md are of unite dill'eient formation. The roe of the Solastrr jMpjx^a 

 is fiiiiiul in tlu- margin of the disc, >!' different urningement from that of 

 the others. The n , ,t' -ome OfUmm occupies five external sacs, each in- 

 terposed U-t \veeTi the roots of two rays, and shew, by their swelling. 

 tin- progressive advances of their c ontents. 



Tin- ova of the .1 /< i v'.v ijlnrlnlix and rrtbfn* seem to be dicharge<l 

 from the end of May throughout June. On dissecting numbers of each. 

 in the beginning of -July, the rays of many were ent in-ly vacant of spawn. 

 Hut, in one large specimen of the former, a lobe of clear spawn, an inch 

 long, was found ; and in other-, \--ry small portions, which, early in the 

 season would have been considered originating lobes in both. 



The rays are now di-tended by water. 



The embryo animal, originally circular, is gradually moulded into 

 form, when liberated from the capsule : the limbs are successively de- 

 veloped from the margin, the whole meanwhile presenting an irregular 

 distorted aspect until attaining symmetry. 



The young animals seldom occur at large in a very early stage. \V hen 

 they do so they are preserved without difficulty. 



The Star-lish e\ idently live many years. Some are extremely com- 

 mon, others are of great rarity. 



Tin- history of the Star-fish may be divided into two M-ctums 

 I. The Asteria* II. The 



SECTION I. 1. ASTERIAS GI.ACIAUS. Northern Sm->tar, Crou-fak. 



PLATE XVI. 



This animal seems to be generally and numerously dispersed through- 

 out the northern regions It is abundant in the Scotish seas, inson. 



that description is hardly essential, for none other i- tin 

 dental reference. 



