158 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



" But what made it break up ? " asked 

 Harry. 



" It committed suicide ; a number of animals 

 do the same. The only way to save them is to 

 drop them instantly into alcohol after they leave 

 the water ; otherwise they throw off their arms 

 and tentacles, as you have seen. As it is, we 

 have not much left of this one." 



" If I had my way," said Tom, who had been 

 trying to pronounce Asterophyton, the name of 

 the star-fish, as they rested upon the coral heads, 

 " I wouldn't have any long scientific names for 

 any animals, but just call this a basket-fish." 



"That might do very well for you, Tom," 

 replied his father, "but the scientific names, as 

 you call them, are very necessary. Suppose now 

 you had discovered a new star-fish, and in your 

 description called it the basket-fish; when the 

 French, German, Italian, and other scientists 

 read your report they would have no little diffi- 

 culty in finding out what you meant ; so for this 

 reason scientists decided many years ago to 

 adopt a common language. Latin was the one 

 selected, though Greek words are also used. 



