732 



THE SUN-STAR. 



membrane, and the centre is also scarlet. The ground color is light yellow, and the 

 contrast of these two beautiful colors has a remarkably splendid effect. This species 

 is seldom seen in the shallow waters or above low-water mark, and is, as a general 

 rule, taken with the dredge. 



The boldly-rayed species, which looks something like the front view of a sunflower, 

 is a very common denizen of our coasts, and goes popularly by the appropriate name 

 of SUN-STAR. It often attains to considerable dimensions, and is always a very con- 

 spicuous object from the glaring colors with which its surface is decorated, and the 

 large amount of surface on which they can be displayed. The upper surface of this 



CROSS-FISH. I/raster rubeas. 

 GIBBOUS STARLET.-Aster/na glbbosa. 



CROSS-FISH. (Reproducing lost rays.) 



KNOTTY CUSttlON-STAR.-Ooniaster equestrls. 



fine species is bright vermilion, and as it sometimes is eight or nine inches in diameter, 

 it is a very brilliant object as it lies upon the rocks. 



Should any reader be desirous of preserving this or any other of the Star-fishes for a 

 cabinet, he may do so without difficulty, by taking a few precautions. The first pro- 

 cess is to wash the Star-fish in plenty of fresh water, and it will be better to follow 

 up this step by removing the whole of the stomach and its appendages. This may 

 be done from the under surface of the rays; and it will perhaps be useful if a little 

 cotton wool be judiciously inserted, so as to prevent the skin from collapsing during 

 the process of drying. Star-fishes may be easily dried, either before the fire or in 

 the sun, but in either case they must be carefully washed in fresh water ; and if a fire 

 be employed, as must be the case in wet or dull weather, the board on which the Star- 

 fish is should not be placed very near the fire, and should be occasionally watched, 

 so that any tendency to warping may be corrected. 



In the EYED CRIBELLA, the rays are rather blunt at their extremities, and are cleft nearly 

 to the centre, so that there is no definite disk. This species is rather stiffer to the ton \\ 

 than the others. It must, however, be remarked that the consistency of the Star-fislu ., !., 



