THE REIGNING NUMBER FIVE. 



121 



Nature divide the circle of the sea-star, and in that order and number 

 disposeth those elegant semicircles or dental sockets and eggs in the sea- 

 hedgehog.' Among the lower and the typical orders we find this num- 

 ber regulating the number of parts. Every plate of the sea-urchin is 



STAB-FISHES (LOWER FIGURE SHOWING UNDER SIDE AND AMBULACRA). 



built up of pentagonal particles. The skeletons of the digestive, the 

 aquiferous, and tegunientary systems equally present the quinary ar- 

 rangement; and even the cartilaginous framework of the disk of every 

 sucker is regulated by this mystic number." 



But to return from this digression : Each furrow, with the exception 

 of a narrow path down the middle, is filled with fleshy tubes, ending in a 



