178 



HALF AN HOUR WITH SEA URCHINS 



most of them may be obtained from any first-class 

 optician. As examples of these we give the forms 

 of plates seen in Figs. 97 and 98, from genera which 

 are closely allied to the Synapta. The Holothuriae 

 go by the popular name of " sea-cucumbers," on 

 account of their rude resemblance, when distended, 

 to the seed pods of that well-known plant. They 

 possess sucking, or ambulacral feet, as do the star- 

 fishes and sea-urchins, although not to the same 

 degree. The mouth is situated at one end of the 



Fig. 98. 



Wheels of Myriotroclius Binkii. 



Wheel of Chirodota 

 violacea. 



body that where the feathery tentacles are and 

 the arms at the other. Our British species are 

 usually met with chiefly in deep water. In the 

 Indian Ocean these animals attain a larger size, and 

 regular fisheries are established, because,, when dry, 

 they are greatly in demand among the Chinese, with 

 whom it is known as " Trepang." Its taste is said 

 to resemble that of the lobster. 



Let any one who is anxious to know more about 

 the objects treated on in this chapter get Professor 

 Forbes' " Monograph of the British Star-fishes." He 



