SUBMARINE DANDO's. 281 



element with a tithe of the rapidity that I well knew 

 they were capable of. At the sea-side, I have seen 

 a specimen of the Cross-fish glide through the water 

 so nimbly, yet withal so gracefully, that I have felt 

 inclined to rank natation among the few other ac- 

 omplishments of which the species can boast. 



The Uraster rubens is also popularly known as 

 ' Five Fingers/ For ages past it has been subject 

 to the bitter denunciation of fishermen and others, 

 for the injury which it is said to inflict upon 

 oysters. At one time, according to Bishop Spratt, 

 the Admiralty Court laid penalties upon those en- 

 gaged in the oyster-fishing who did not tread under 

 their feet, or throw upon the shore, a fish they call a 

 Five-Finger, resembling a spur-rowel, because that 

 fish gets into the oysters when they gape, and sucks 

 them out. Poets have also endeavoured to per- 

 petuate the vulgar opinion : 



'The prickly Star-fish creeps with fell deceit, 

 To force the Oyster from his close retreat, 

 Whose gaping lids their widened void display; 

 The watchful Star thrusts in a pointed ray 

 Of all its treasures robs the rifled case, 

 And empty shells the sandy hillock grace.' 



Even yet the oyster fishermen at certain localities 

 wreak all possible vengeance upon the ' submarine 

 Dando's/ for their supposed gourmandizing propen- 

 sities. I say supposed, for although so many 

 naturalists have studied the question, it is not, up 

 to the present time, satisfactorily settled. Some 

 deny the alleged tendency altogether, while less 



