736 



THE FEATHER STAR. 



It takes its food by means of these wonderful arms, using itself, in fact, like a living 

 casting net, surrounding the prey with the spread arms, and enclosing it within their 

 multitudinous lines. It has been known to embrace in this manner a fisherman's bait, 

 and to allow itself to be drawn to the surface without loosing its hold. It is one of the 

 deep sea Star-fishes, and is very seldom taken except by means of the dredge or line. 



The Structure of the Shetland Argus is most marvellously complicated, inasmuch as 

 each of the numerous arms is composed of an enormous number of small joints, each 

 exactly in its place, and so beautifully connected together, that they are as flexible as 

 silken cords, and yet as perfectly under the command of their owner as if they were 

 restricted to the original five from which they take their origin. 



ROSY FEATHER-STAR. -Cbmafufe rosacea. 



THE elegant and graceful Star-fish which is appropriately named the FEATHER-STAR, 

 is a native of our own coasts, and has always attracted the attention of sea-side 

 observers. It is not very readily seen, being one of the deep water species, but it may 

 be captured by means of the dredge, and will live for some time in the marine aquarium. 

 It is a very active being, combining in its own person the accomplishments of many 

 different Star-fishes. For example, it can crawl with tolerable speed over the ground, 

 can swim through the water with sufficient power to direct its course, can float about 

 at will, driven by the tide, and will sometimes clasp pieces of floating wood so as to be 

 carried along by the waves without any fatigue. 



Its habits while in the aquarium are very interesting, and have been well described 

 by Mr. Gosse : 



" In captivity, the Feather-star sits upon the frond of a sea-weed or on a projecting 

 angle of rock, which it grasps very firmly with its clawed filaments, so firmly that 



