PROFESSOR JONES. 283 



sion of stomach, or of some membrane of it. Whether 

 this may be the means of affecting their prey, merits 

 investigation/ 



Professor Jones, who affirms that in the latter 

 suggestion Sir J. Dalyell has nearly hit upon the 

 true solution of the problem, thus gives what he con- 

 siders to be the correct mode of procedure on the 

 1 part of the Star-fish : ' Grasping its shell-clad prey 

 between its rays, and firmly fixing it by means of its 

 prehensile suckers, it proceeds deliberately to turn its 

 stomach inside out, embracing in its ample folds the 

 helpless bivalve, and perhaps at the same time instill- 

 ing some torpifying fluid, for the shells of the poor 

 victim seized soon open, and it then becomes an easy 

 prey.' 



Now, many fishermen with whom I have con- 

 versed hold the same opinion as Bishop Spratt, and 

 believe that when the oyster is gaping the Star-fish 

 insinuates a finger, and hastily scrapes out the de- 

 licious mouthful ; nay, further maintain that the 

 Star-fish is far from being successful at all times, 

 very often, especially when there has only been one 

 ray inserted, the frightened oyster grasps it with all 

 his might, and obliges his discomfited opponent to 

 retire minus a limb. 



If the writer might venture to suggest an opinion, 

 he would express his belief that the following is the 

 correct account of the state of matters. He believes 

 with the fishermen that frequently the star-fish 



