348 DIVISION IV. RADIATA.—CLASS I. ECHINODERMATA. 
spirits, it emits a most beautiful purple color, which tinges the liquid in 
which it is killed. 
The Snake Stars are essentially distinguished from the true star-fishes by 
the long, serpent, or worm-like arms, which are appended to their round, 
depressed, urchin-like bodies. They have no true suckers with which to 
walk, their progression being effected with great facility by the twisting or 
wriggling of their arms, which are moreover in many species furnished with 
spines on the sides, assisting locomotion over a flat surface. These arms are 
very different from those of the true star-fishes, which are lobes of the ani- 
mal’s body, whereas the arms of the Ophiuridw are mere processes attached 
or superadded to the body. 
The Sand Stars have rays of a whip-like or lizard-tail appearance, while 
those of the Brittle Stars look like so many centipedes or annelides attached 
at recular distances round a little sea-urchin. 
Many of the Brittle Stars are extremely handsome, presenting every vari- 
ety of variegation, and the most splendid displays of vivid hues arranged in 
beautiful patterns. Not often are two specimens found colored alike. 
“The Common Lrittle Star,” says Edward Forbes, “ often congregates 
in great numbers on the edges of scallop-banks, and I have seen a large 
dredve come up completely filled with them—a most curious sight, for, 
when the dredge was emptied, these little creatures, writhing with the 
strongest contortions, crept about in all directions, often flinging their arms 
in broken pieces around them, and their snake-like and threatening attitudes 
were by no means relished by the boatmen, who anxiously asked permission 
to shovel them overboard, superstitiously remarking that the things weren’t 
altogether right.” 
A. Fragilissina (Luidia Fragilissima).—This remarkable animal 
measures nearly two feet across. The rays are from five to seven, and gen- 
erally five times as long as the disk is broad. Above, the color is brick-red ; 
the under surface is straw color. 
© The first time I ever took one of these creatures,” 
says Edward Forbes, 
“T succeeded in getting it into the boat entire. Never having seen one be- 
fore, and quite unconscious of its suicidal powers, I spread it out on a row- 
ing-bench, the better to admire its form and colors. On attempting to move 
it for preservation, to my horror and disappointment I found only an assem- 
blage of rejected members. My conservative endeavors were all neutral- 
ized by its destructive exertions, and it is now badly represented in my 
cabinet by an armless disk and a diskless arm. Next time I went to dredge 
on the same spot, determined not to be cheated out of a specimen in such 
away a second time, I brought with me a bucket of cold fresh water, to 
which article star-fishes have a great antipathy. As I expected, a Luidia 
