COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHORE. 



299 



quently thrown by the tide on the shore, or dragged 

 up in nets, or on the hook of the fisherman. Some 

 of the largest specimens measure nine inches 



across. It is very voracious, and generally found 

 in deeper water than the last-mentioned species. 



All our British star-fishes are not so distinctly 

 rayed in the star-like form. Thus we have the 

 Bird's-foot Sea-star, an animal of a pentagonal 

 shape, with very blunt angles, and of a white 

 colour, marked with a red centre and fine red rays. 

 It is thin, and when alive, flexible, like a piece of 

 leather. Then we have the pretty little Gibbous 

 Starlet, rarely measuring an inch across, and very 

 common on some shores, though apparently con- 

 fined to the south and west coasts of our island ; 

 and the knotty Cushion-star, and others which 

 may be described as having five angles rather than 

 rays. 



