AST Kill AS. 



muiv !.\ invest in- ilif prev ; whieh is \vli.illy absorbed, on tlu mouth dilat- 

 ing for it* reception. Tin- mussel, though sometimes reje,-t,-.l for fih 

 in preference, is usually acceptable. Under protracted abstinence, even 

 tlu- fuci are not refused. If the portion of food be too large for tin 

 mouth, tin- -totimrh, or u traiisp.uvnt internal membrane, protrude* and 

 applies to it, apparently absorbing the juices. The testacea, wliether 

 univalves or bivalves, become a ready prey. The Turbo and the 

 1'holas fall victims alike. A specimen, not eontent with seizing a small 

 mussel introdm-ed into ite vessel, hastened to involve another. As tin- 

 prey is brought under the mouth, it is hemmed in by the limbs on all 

 sides, crushed asunder, or swallowed entire. If chancing to escape, it i 

 only from superior strength. Small fishe*,' small Echini, and even HOIIIC 

 of its own genus are all among the sacrifices to the merciless voracity of 

 the Aster ias glaciali*. 



The colour and size are variable : the adult in perfection in of u line 

 purple of various intensity, according to the specimen. That repre- 

 sented, Plate XVI., of half the natural dimensions, expanded complete! v 

 twelve inches between the opposite extremities of the tentacula. Hut 

 the young animal is white, and regenerating organs of the old are origi- 

 nally colourless, both in accordance with the laws usually regulating tin 

 aspect of early productions. 



A small specimen, which might have been circumscribed by a circle 

 of three linen diameter in the end of September, traversed the side of it;- 

 vessel vivaciously, and swam supine, fig. 2. Another small specimen, 

 expanding eight lines, and which was a line thick, appeared perfectlv 

 white on February 20, and very pale grey a month later, fig. 3. At 

 this period, the tubercles disposed over the rays in longitudinal ro\\- 

 were well exposed under the microscope, fig. 4. The animal wax vigor- 

 ous, and fed on mussel. But I felt perplexed as to its identity with the 

 species. In three more weeks, I thought the slightest tinge of purple 

 perceptible, and the fact was decided ten days later, when its expansion 

 equalled fifteen lines, or an inch and a quarter. Though hardly to be 

 preserved, owing to the heat of the weather about June 20, ite increment 

 had still advanced, and the colour had become dark purple on July 11. 

 Being two inches in expansion, it was delineated, fig. 5. 



