752 



The Living Animals of the World 



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flwlo bii ]i: SavUli-Ki ,il, F.Z.b J 



SEA-CUCUlIBKli, OK BJiCHE-DE-MER, 



These anim;ils ;Lre collected in vai;t quantities on ths Australian Great BaiTicr Reef, smoked, and 

 sent to the Cliinese market. 



outlying jiiortions becoming 

 gradually absorbed. Some of 

 the brittle-stars and sea- 

 cucumbers Ijring fortla their 

 young in the adult form, 

 nursing them from the egg in 

 special breeding-chambers. 



The capacity of a star-fish 

 to renew its lost arms is 

 commonly manifested. A single 

 detached arm, moreover, in such 

 a type as the common five- 

 fingered species, can reproduce 

 its body and the remaining four 

 arms. Fishermen, who are in 

 the habit of tearing up star- 

 fishes and throwing them back 

 into the water, under the im- 

 pression that they are thus 

 effectually incapacitating them 

 from further injury to their 

 oyster-beds, commit an error, 

 such mutilation tending to the 

 multiplication of their numbers. 

 In the matter of colour-ornamentation the Star-fish group is richly endowed. Allusion 

 to the brilliant crimson and piiik-and-wliite tints of the British sun star-fish has been 

 already made. As with most animal groups, however, it is amid their tropical representatives 

 that the most striking colour-variations obtain. One form which is common among the coral- 

 reefs on the Queensland coast-line, and much resembles the common British " five-fingers " 

 in size and shape, is brilliant ultramarine-blue. Another large pentagonal species, belonging to 

 the group known as Cushion- 

 stars, has a golden-brown 

 ground, upon which are 

 thickly scattered small liead- 

 like tul)ercles of turquoise. 

 A third form, not un- 

 common on the Tasmanian 

 coast-line, whicli is nearly 

 related to the Bird's-foot 

 species, previously mentioned, 

 is distinguished by tints which 

 range through several shades 

 of crimson to brilliant violet. 

 JN'ot a few of the star- 

 fishes are notalile for tlieir 

 eminent phosphorescent 

 properties. The group of 

 the Snal^e-armed and Brittle- 

 stars are move especially 



distinguished in this respect. I'hoiohij w. savme-Kait,F z ti.\ 



Many of these species pkickly sea-cucumber. 



occur in such numbers in ''''''s^'Pec'osofbcche-de-mer commands a high price in CUina, and makes delicious coup. 



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