110 ECHINODERMATA. 



The tufts now alluded to, whether red or yellowish, are of singular 

 conformation. They consist of not fewer than fifteen blades, rising from 

 a common neck uniting them, which is seemingly a prolongation from 

 the animal's skin, fig. 4. There are specimens wherein the tufts lean 

 over the madreporiform tubercle, itself a small striated, indurated, flat- 

 tened spot, white, or of the palest yellow, fig. 5. 



A common sucker is represented, fig. 6 ; and one of tentacular na- 

 ture, fig. 7. 



The under surface of the animal is white ; it has no resemblance to 

 the upper surface. Plate XXV. 



The ocular or glandular speck at the extremity of the rays of the 

 Asterias papposa is red or brown. In a small lively specimen, sub- 

 jected to the microscope, what appeared single and red to the naked eye 

 was discovered to consist of about twenty very minute specks, vivid red, 

 dispersed over a pale ground. The specks are generally circular ; but 

 while most of them are so in one ray of a specimen, those in the rest 

 may be rudely triangular. Neither are the red specks disposed in regular 

 order. In distribution they may be compared to similar black specks, 

 supposed ocular, occurring in the Planaria: and Verities, fig. 8. In a 

 large dingy red specimen the specks, under a powerful magnifier, re- 

 sembled an obtuse conic frustum, of vermillion intensity of colour, with 

 a lighter depressed rather than elevated speckling, fig. 9. Another was 

 nearly of similar form ; a third projected as a spherical segment. 



This subject is extremely obscure, but I do not yet see any relevant 

 ground for beh'eving that such specks in the extremity of the rays of the 

 Star-fish are the organs of vision. 



Under favourable circumstances this species feeds voraciously on 

 mussel. But, from previous injury, perhaps, specimens have proved 

 always of difficult preservation, nor, unless with rare exceptions, are they 

 in a condition to feed. Some, however, are very active, and feed readily. 

 If supplied with a cleft mussel shell the everted stomach protrudes, ap- 

 parently to absorb the contents. Without this faculty food would be 

 often inaccessible. 



Three specimens had been committed to the same vessel as Plate 



