302 COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHOEE. 



are in some species seven or eight inches long, 

 and twisting about in most graceful convolutions, 

 they could not fail to interest those who regarded 

 them. Fragile creatures are they all, not only 

 having the power of breaking up the arms into 

 pieces, but these pieces again actually dividing 

 themselves into others, so that when seized they 

 will often leave only their disc whole. Equally 

 with the true star-fishes, they can reproduce their 

 rays, and may therefore safely indulge their ex- 

 cited feelings. 



One of the species of the true star-fishes, is 

 brittle as even the most fragile of the brittle- stars ; 

 this is the Lingthorn (Luidia fragilissima) , an 

 animal which is sometimes two feet in diameter, 

 and has five or seven rays. It is of an orange or 

 red colour. Its singular power of breaking itself 

 up, in its indignation at being taken, is related in 

 so amusing a manner by the Professor, that jus- 

 tice can be given to his description only by quoting 

 his words. This as well as several other species 

 is rarely cast on sand or shingle, but must be 

 fetched up from deeper water by the dredge. The 

 author had succeeded in getting a Lingthorn into 

 the boat, and not aware of its peculiarities, had laid 

 it on a bench for examination. " On attempting,'* 

 he says, "to remove it for preservation, to my 

 horror and disappointment, I found only an assem- 

 blage of rejected members ; my conservative en- 

 deavours were all neutralized by its destructive 

 exertions, and it is now badly represented in my 

 cabinet by an armless disc and a discless arm, 

 Next time I went to dredge on the same spot, 

 determined not to be cheated out of a specimen in 

 such a way a second time, I brought with me a 



