130 ZOOPHYTES. 



careful to avoid injuring, in any way, the tender foot of 

 the animal), any wounded part will decay, and finally kill 

 the creature. 



There is a class of animals nearly related to the Anemo- 

 nes, termed Echinoderms, of which several species may be 

 introduced into an Aquarium, and many of which are to be 

 obtained on our seaboard ; as, the curious Echinus that 

 looks like a pin-cushion beset with pins, or — taking another 

 figure for example — appearing to be a near relation of the 

 hedgehog. Starfish, of which we have one very common 



Star-fish. 



4 



species, the Astcrias rubens, or common five-finger, may be 

 introduced into an Aquarium; but they have an unpleasant 

 propensity of rending themselves apart — that is to say, in 

 confinement they will tear off their rays one by one, leav- 

 ing them behind them, I have seen one ray, attached to 

 a body, travelling on, having left the other four behind 

 fixed to the glass side of the tank. 



