G24 



RADIATxV. 



.M'lmrntc; the reproduction is attended with very curious transformations. They generally live 

 on niollusca and otlur animals found in the sea. 



The animals of this class arc divided into four orders, Holothurida, JSchinida, Stellerida, an<i 

 Crimmlca. 



THE COMMON SEA-CUCUMBEE. 



ORDER 1. HOLOTHURIDA. 



The animals of this order, called Sea-Cucumhers, are covered with a very elastic, leathery skin, 

 kept moist by mucus that exudes through the pores; they have a somewhat worm-like appear- 

 ance, the radiate structure being only visible in the tentacles which usually surround the mouth. The 

 ambulacra, though short, resemble those of the other Echinodermata in their number and action. 

 The Sea-Cucumbers are of various forms, some of the species being found in nearly all seas. 

 They generally live among sea-weed or in mud, and are supposed to seize their prey by their 



tentacles. They have the power of 

 elongating and contracting their forms 

 so as at one time to appear like 

 worms, and at another to assume the 

 shape of an hour-glass. One of the 

 largest species, the Great Sea-Cucum- 

 ber, Cucumariafrondosa, found in Eu- 

 ropean seas, is a foot long. The Angu. 

 LAR Sea-Cucumber, C. j^^ntactes, is 

 also a European species, with double 

 rows of warty suckers. There are 

 many other species, common in the At- 

 lantic and other seas, some of which 

 are eaten ; the Trepang, Holothuria 

 edulis, is an article of luxury among 

 the Chinese. It is very abundant on 

 the north coast of New Holland, and 

 is collected there by the Malays in 

 large quantities, dried, and packed up 

 in bass for the Chinese market. The 

 Malays and Chinese meet at the Island of Macassar, where the principal trade in this delicacy is 

 carried on ; and the quantity annually brought to that place by the fishermen is said to amount to 

 upwards of four liundred tons. The price varies according to quality, from eight dollars to one 

 hundred and fifteen dollars per j^ecul of one hundred and thirty-three pounds. 



ORDER 2. ECHINIDA. 



The animals of this order are covered with calcareous plates, forming a convex shell, more or 

 less globular, with an opening at each end. The division into five parts is as distinct here 

 as in the star-fishes, notwithstanding the total absence of arms, the holes through which the 



THE ANGULAR SEA-CUCUMBEB. 



