COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHORE. 297 



gliding silvery fish, and get from within its hard 

 shell the mollusk, apparently so well protected. 

 Helpless as this animal would seem as it lies on the 

 beach, it can conquer creatures which have greater 

 strength and activity than itself. While lying in 

 wait for its prey, it may chance that a crab comes 

 within the grasp of its rays, which are ready bent 

 in attitude for seizure. No sooner does the animal 

 come in their reach, than the rays are closed down 

 upon it, and vigorous as may be the struggle, 

 escape is impossible, for all the suckers come out 

 of their orifices, hold it down, and drag it to the 

 mouth, where it is swallowed. The capture of the 

 oyster might seem even a more difficult thing for 

 the star-fish, yet it devours an immense number of 

 these shell-fish, and is consequently in ill repute 

 with the fishermen. The ancients, and many 

 modern writers too, have told that it contrived to 

 reach the mollusk enclosed in its shell, by in- 

 sinuating one of its rays between the valves, when 

 they happened to lie partly open. Thus the poet 

 says : 



" The prickly star-fish creeps with fell deceit 

 To force the oyster from his close retreat ; 

 When gaping lids their widen'd void display, 

 The watchful star thrusts in a pointed ray ; 

 Of all its treasures robs the rifled case, 

 And empty shells the sandy hillock grace." 



But though the star-fish does not thus " employ its 

 rays as an oyster-knife," yet Professor Jones, in 

 his most delightful book, " The Natural History of 

 Animals," describes this process, which, as he 

 says, is unique. The animal seizes upon the shelly 

 valves of the oyster, and " proceeds coolly to turn 

 its stomach inside out ; it then, perhaps, instils 



