582 STAR-FISHES. 
owner, and works upon a true ball-and-socket joint, the ball being a round 
giobular projection on the surface of the shell, and the socket sunk into the 
base of the spine. 
‘he Common Sea-urchin is edible, and in some places is extensively con- 
sumed, fully caining its ttle of Sea-egg, by being boiled and eaten in the 
same manner a> the eggs of noultry. 
LEAVING the Echim, we pass to the next large group of Echinodermata, 
called scientitivally Asteriad.c, and popularly known as STAR-FIsHES. These 
creatuies exhibt in the strongest manner the radiate form of budy, the 
various organs boluly radiating tion: a common centre. 
Many or these creatures ure exceedingly common upon our own coasts, so 
plentiful, indeed, as to be intensely hated by the nshermen. Of these, the 
common FIVE-FINGER, or CkUSS-FISH, 1S p:rhaps found in the greatest 
numbers. Ali Star-fishes are very wouderfui beings, and well repay a close 
and lengthened examination of their hab.ts, thew developmen:, and their 
anatomy. ‘There are suffivient materials in a single Star fish to fill a whole 
bok as large as the present volu.ne, and it is therefore necessary that our 
descriptions shal! be but biief and compressed, To begin with the ordinary 
habits of this creature. Everyone who las wandereu by the sea-side has 
seen specimens of the common Five-fingers thrown on the beach, and 
perhaps may have passed it by as something too commonplace to deserve 
notice. If it be taken up, it dangles helplessly from the hand, and appears 
to be one of the must innocucus beings on the face of the earth. Yet, this 
very creature has in all probability killed and devoured great numbers of the 
edib’e molluscs. ad has either entirely or partially excited the anger of many 
an industrious fisherman. 
To begin with the former delinquency. It is found that the Star-fish is a 
terrible foe to molluscs, and although its 
body is so soft, and it is destitute of anv 
jaws or levers, such as are employed by 
other moliusc-eating i: habitants of the 
sea, it can devour even the tightly shut 
bivalves, however firmly they may close 
their valves. 
The second delinquency of the Star-fish 
is achieved as follows. By some wonder- 
ful power the Star-fish is enabled to de- 
tect rrey at some distance, even tlough 
no organs of sight, hearing, or scent can 
be absolutely defined. When, therefore, 
the fishermen lower their baits intu the 
sea, the Star-fishes aud crabs often seize 
the hook. and so give the fisherman all 
the trouble of pulling up his line for 
nothing, baiting the hook afresh, and los- 
CROSS-FISH.—(Craster rubens.) ing his time. The fishermen always kill 
the Star-fish in reprisal for its attack on 
their bait, and formerly were accustomed to tear it across and fling the pieves 
into the sea. This, however, is a very foolish plan of proceeding, for the 
Star-fish is wonderfully tenacious of life, and can bear the loss of one or all 
of its rays without seeming much inconvenienced. The two halves of the 
Asterias would simply heal the wound, pnt forth fresh rays, and, after a 
time, be transmuted into two perfect Star-fishes. 
The movements of the Star-fish are extremely graceful, the creature gliding 
onward with a beautifully smooth and regular motion, It always manages 
