SUCKERS OP STAR-FISHES. 329 



the star-fish is motionless ; for, offended by the rough handling 

 it has undergone, the feet have all shrunk into the body; but 

 Boon they are seen to emerge like so many little worms from 



Star-Fi3h. 



The upper tuberculated surface Is shown, with some of the spines of the under surface 

 projecting at the sides of the rays. At one or the angles between the rays, on the right 

 side, is seen the eccentric calcareous plate, or m ulreporic tubercle, which indicates the 

 existence of a bilateral symmetry. 



their holes, and to grope backwards and forwards through the 

 water, evidently seeking the nearest ground to lay hold of. 

 Those that reach it first immediately affix their suckers, and, by 

 contracting, draw a portion of the body after them, so as to 

 enable others to attach themselves, until, pulley being added 

 to pulley, their united power is sufficient to restore the star-fish 

 to its natural position. 



This act of volition is surely remarkable enough in so simple 

 an animal, which scarcely possesses the rudiments of a nervous 

 system, but the simple mechanism by which the suckers are 

 put into motion is still more wonderful. Each of these little 

 organs is tubular, and connected with a globular vesicle filled 

 with an aqueous fluid, and contained within the body of the 

 star-fish immediately beneath the hole from which the sucker 



