

SHETLAND ARGUS. Astrophyton scutdtum. 



The Ophiuri are quite as voracious as the ordinary Star-fishes, and are able by means 

 of the long arms to convey food to the mouth, which is placed in the central disk. The 

 young of these Echinodermata are quite as curious as those of the sea-urchins, to which 

 indeed they bear some rese*j^ince. They have long been known to naturalists under the 

 title of Easel animalcules, oWkcount of their peculiar shape, their real origin not being 

 suspected until later years. It is totally unlike the form which it attains when mature, 

 and the relationship between the adult Star-fish and the Pluteus, as the larva is termed, 

 has been well compared to the relation of an embroidery frame to the pictured canvas 

 within. Both the species shown in this illustration are inhabitants of the British seas. 



THE wonderful creature which is called by the name of SHETLAND AEGUS is one of a 

 most remarkable genus of Star-fishes, which are remarkable for the vast development of 

 their arms. 



Although the whole mass of arms is of so complicated a description, it will be found, on 

 carefully examining the creature, to be formed by the simple process of twofold division. 

 From the central disk spring five stout arms, each of which almost immediately 

 divides into two smaller arms, and these again into two others ; so that in a fine specimen 

 the number of little arms or tendrils, if we may so call them, exceeds eighty thousand. 

 All these organs are extremely flexible, and quite under the control of the animal, which 

 is able to close or expand them at will. When the extremities of the arms are drawn 

 together, it will be seen that the whole animal assumes the shape of a globular basket ; 

 and in consequence of this resemblance, the name of Basket-urchin, or Sea-basket, has 

 been proposed for the creature. 



