STARFISHES, URCHINS AND SEA-CUCUMBERS 



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intestine extends tlie entire length of the body, and may be seen 

 through the translucent skin, especially when it is distended by the 

 sand which the creature constantly swallows in order to obtain the 

 minute organisms upon which it feeds. 



The Sijnapta lives within a tube made of fine sand particles 

 aglutinated with adhesive slime. This tube is made up of a series 

 of rings. The Sipiapta selects little particles of sand with its ten- 

 tacles, and then fastens them together so as to 

 form a ring around the mouth. The ring is tlien 

 forced down the sides of the body by muscular 

 contraction, and thus a tube is finally made with- 

 in Avhich the creature lives. 



Our Sijnapta has the curious habit of l)reak- 

 ing itself into pieces by muscular constriction, 

 and if placed in unfavorable conditions, it soon 

 breaks up into numerous short lengths. 



A good figure of it is given in Agassiz's 

 " Seaside Studies," under the name of Synapta 

 tenuis. 



The Red Sea-Cucumber, (SynapUi roseola), 

 closely resembles Synapta inhwrens but can be 

 at once distinguished by its reddish color, and by 

 the fact that it lives under stones or in gravelly 

 beaches, never in sand or mud. 



The Crimson Sea-Cucumber, ( Cuvieria sqiia- 

 iiiata J, is found along the New England coast 

 north of Cape Cod. It is of a brilliant red color, 

 and the sides and back are shingled with roTind-edged scales. The 

 lower side of the body is free of scales, but is provided with three 

 rows of tube-feet bearing suckers. 



There are ten tentacles which branch profusely and resemble 

 beautiful red trees almost as long as the body. The creature becomes 

 about eight inches long. The brilliant red larvfe, about as large as 

 a pin's head, occur in myriads in the ocean during the spring and 

 earlv summer months. 



Fig. 33; mSITTLE 

 SEA CUCUMBER 



