ASTEBIAS. |i.;, 



ing slightly from the origin. The whole surface is of a fine purple colour 

 above, the extremity of tin- rays yellowish, the under surface tending to 

 ili.it colour also. Plate XX., fig. 1. A narrow channel here running 

 along each ray contains the suckers, fig. 2. The skin appears punctured 

 to the naked rye. I'mlrr tin- iiiirroscope it seems covered with a kind 

 .>!' very low tufta or knobs, hardly prominent, rather in circular arninge- 

 mrnt, interspersed with circular orifices, fig. 3. 



A small hard substance, scarcely prominent above the skin, and gene- 

 rally of a whitish colour, appears towards the edge of the disc of t he 

 st:ir fish of many species. The use of this, called the Madreporifonn 

 tubercle, is yet undiscovered. In the present subject it is very small, 

 but the peculiarity of its structure is exposed by the microscope, fig. 4. 



In many of the star-fish also a solid round speck appears at the ex- 

 tremity of each ray, fig. 5, which seems to be composed of several sub- 

 ordinate specks, fig. 6. It is red in the Asteria* oculata, and is seated 

 amidst a few tentacula, extruding farther. Some authors consider such 

 specks the eyes of the animal ; but it does not appear that satisfactory 

 reasons support their opinion, nor can it be shown why the speck may 

 not be a gland instead of an eye. 



Tins animal feeds on the mussel, but not readily : Probably also on 

 the Lepas. Many reject food entirely. 



In its earlier stages, the A*ter\a octdata seems to be of a circular 

 form, followed by development of the rays. Of two minute specimens 

 occuring in the month of July, one was nearly circular, fig. 7 ; originat- 

 ing rays, with some suckers, distinguished the other, fig. 8. After a 

 minute deep reddish orange specimen had been two months in my po- 

 session, I found it an eighth of an inch in diameter, with five short ob- 

 tuse rays, fig. 9. A small orange specimen, with five stout rays, fed 

 readily on mussel, dwelling long over its prey, fig. 10. 



I advance my opinion of the identity of such small animals as be- 

 longing to the species with reserve, because their history was not followed 

 from its earliest origin. 



The young of the star- fish bears no resemblance to the adult. All 

 its organs are successively developed into form. 



