1^0"] Jrnnings. — Behavior of the Starfish. 183 



aceoinited for tliese tliin.u.s in simple chemical and physical ways, 

 and the hasty recourse to eutelechies and the like, seem due only 

 to the impatient demand for an immediate and final explanation 

 at all cost. And the price paid for the explanation by the Ente- 

 Icchy a]>p('ars to !)(' the iiivinti- up of all hope of any real under- 

 standinii', leaving our descendants for the next few thousand 

 generations cut oft' from all opportunity to solve any of the fun- 

 damenlal problems by the methods of experiment and analysis. 



Concluding Statement. 



The foregoing account is intended partly to serve as a store- 

 house of objective facts, for reference when information concern- 

 ing the behavior of the starfish is required, in order that there 

 may be no farther excuse for theories that leave out of account 

 the facts. It is therefore not practicable to make a summary that 

 will really represent the results set forth in the paper. To form 

 an idea of the matters treated, reference should be made to the 

 table of contents. 



Perhaps the most important thing developed in the paper is 

 the demonstration of the variability, modifiability, unity and 

 adaptiveness in the main features of the behavior of the starfish. 

 The movements are shown to depend on the varying physiological 

 conditions of the animal, and the numerous factors which demon- 

 strably modify the physiological condition, and therefore, the be- 

 havior, are set forth in detail. Habit formation is demonstrated 

 and discussed in full. The unity and co-ordination of much of 

 the behavior is presented, and some theories of its nature and 

 origin are discu.ssed. Of subordinate importance are the essen- 

 tially new, correct accounts of the method of locomotion and of 

 fhe wav in which the negative reactions occur. 



ZooJof/ieal Laboratory. Joints Hopkins University, 

 Baltimore, Md. 



