5^2 THE STAR-FISH, OR SEA STAR, 



the ancients as food, and it is even yet used as such 

 by the Italians. 



The, Eight-armed Cuttlefish* in the hot climates 

 sometimes becomes of such a size as to measure 

 twelve feet across its centre, and to have each of its 

 arms between forty and fifty feet long. When the 

 Indians go out in their canoes, in places frequented 

 by these Sepia, they are always in dread of their 

 flinging their arms over and sinking them; on which 

 account they are carelul to take with them an ax 

 to cut them off. 



THE STAR-FISH, or SEA-STAR, 



These are inhabitants of the sea, and are usually 

 found on the sand or among the rocks on the sea- 

 shore, considerably below high-water mark. Their 

 covering is a coriaceous crust, which defends them 

 from the attacksofthesmaller animals; and they have 

 five or more rays proceeding from a centre in which 

 their mouth is situated. Every ray is furnished with 

 a prodigious number of tentacula, or short soft and 

 fleshy tubes, which appear to be of use not only in 

 taking prey, and in aiding the motion ot the animal, 

 but also in enabling it to adhere to rocks and other 

 substances, by which it withstands the force of the 

 waves. In a single animal these tentacula have 



-> actepvdia of Linnatos. 



