156 HALF AN HOUR WITH SEA-URCHINS 



X. 



HALF AN HOUR WITH SEA-URCHINS AND STAR-FISH. 



ALTHOUGH the animals on which we propose to 

 treat in the present chapter are more of a deep sea 

 character than the rest, the seaside visitor cannot 

 fail to come across specimens. The well-known 

 star-fishes are indeed commonly thrown ashore, and, 

 to all appearance, dead. Should the visitor, as we 

 have repeatedly advised him, look out for the 

 trawl-boats as they come in, or bribe the fishermen 

 to put aside their " rubbish " for him, he will soon 

 be in no want of objects to illustrate our remarks. 

 At low water, also, under the stones, he may 

 find, when he has turned them over, the sea- 

 urchins and star-fish of certain species lurking 

 there, and quietly waiting the tide to flow over and 

 give them a chance of extending their knowledge of 

 the world, and getting another meal ! 



The structure both of star-fishes and sea-urchins 

 is very remarkable, and cannot fail to elicit expres- 

 sions of admiration. Notwithstanding the apparent 

 unlikeness of these two groups of marine animals, 

 there is actually little difference. Both are con- 

 structed pretty much on the same plan, whilst the 

 internal arrangement is still more striking. These 

 animals, along with others, were formerly grouped 



