HABITS OF ASTEROPHYTON. 189 



written almost a century ago, will best answer our 

 purpose. We like the graphic eloquence of a first 

 description ; it comes smacking off the lips, true and 

 racy ; there is no retailing it at second-hand, and no 

 chance of foisting off a copy for the genuine portrait. 

 It would be as easy to retail a pun, or carry a kiss 

 into the next room on a salver, as to attempt to 

 imitate the enthusiasm of an original describer. 



" I understand by the fisherman who brought me 

 this fish, that he never saw nor heard of any but six 

 or seven that were taken by himself not far from the 

 shoals of Nantucket, when he was fishing for cod. 

 This Stellar-fish, when it was alive, and first pulled 

 out of the water, was like a basket, and had gathered 

 itself round like a wicker-basket, having taken fast 

 hold upon the bait, which he had sunk down to the 

 bottom to catch other fish, and, having hold of that 

 with its arms, would not let it go, though drawn up 

 into the boat, until, by lying a while on the deck, it 

 felt the want of its natural element, and then volun- 

 tarily it extended itself into a flat, round form. The 

 only use that could be discerned of all that curious 

 composure with which Nature has adorned it, seems 

 to be to make it as a purse-net to catch other fishes, 

 or any other thing fit for its food, and as a basket of 

 store to keep some of it for its future supply. 



" He told me that every one of its smallest parts, 

 when it was alive, had motion and tenacious strength ; 

 but after it was dead, and extended to a flat round, it 

 was so brittle that it could not be handled without 

 breaking some parts of it ; but by carefully hanging 

 it to dry, it was somewhat hardened. I think, till a 



