THE STARFISH GALLERY 



The Starfish Gallery contains a selected series of the animals 

 belonging to the class Echinodermata, of which the Starfishes are 

 one of the best-known types, but which, besides, includes the 

 Crinoids, Sea- Urchins, and Sea-Cucumbers or Sea-Slugs. 



A small collection of various kinds ot Worms is also exhibited in 

 this Gallery (Wall-cases I.— III.) . 



ECHINODERMATA. 



Table-cases 1-6 contain the dried Echinoderms arranged in 

 systematic order. Table-case 7 is devoted to preparations, models, 

 and figures illustrative of the structure and life-history of various 

 members of the group. 



An inspection of that Case and the accompanying woodcuts will 

 make clear the distinctive characters of the Echinodermata. Lnlike 

 that of a Crayfish or a Mussel, the body is not divided into two equal 

 or symmetrical halves, but is produced into a number of rays, of 

 which there are ordinarily five. The skin is strengthened by the 

 deposition in it of carbonate of lime, which may be in the form of 

 continuous plates or bars, or of separate scattered spicules. A 

 series of tube-feet or suckers are generally developed along each 

 ray, and these are supplied by a system of water-vessels peculiar to 

 Starfishes and their allies. These rays are often called " ambulaci'a." 



