282 SIR JOHN DALYELL. 



sceptical observers are unable to understand the 

 mode in which the Star-fish could injure an animal 

 apparently so capable of self-defence as the oyster. 

 According to certain authors, the Star-fish encircles 

 the oyster with its five fingers, and by some clever 

 process of suction destroys the unfortunate mollusc. 

 Others, again, maintain that the first step of the 

 attack is the injection of some marine chloroform 

 between the shells of the oyster, and that during the 

 insensibility that follows, the Star-fish effects an 

 entrance. 



As this is an interesting subject, perhaps the 

 reader would like to have the exact words which 

 are used by two celebrated naturalists, one of whom 

 attempts to vindicate the character of the Asteridse, 

 the other to blacken it. 



Sir John Dalyell a high authority upon all 

 matters of marine zoology- shrewdly remarks : ' I 

 have not heard it suggested that the Star-fish pos- 

 sesses any kind of solvent compelling the bivalves 

 to sunder. Neither can its hostility be very deadly 

 to the larger univalves, from the distance to which 

 they are enabled to retreat within their portable 

 dwellings. Their general habits are, to force the 

 shells of smaller bivalves asunder, and to devour the 

 contents; they likewise consume the substance of 

 ordinary fishes entire ; nevertheless, as far as I am 

 yet aware, their destruction of oysters is destitute of 

 evidence. The Star-fish sometimes shows an ever- 



