148 
LECTURE X. 
the form of a star, as vulgarly painted. In some 
the rays or limbs are few in number, and in others 
numerous : in the more simple species the prevail- 
ing number of the rays is five ; in others ten, or 
twelve. In some the rays, instead of being broad 
©r thick at the base, are throughout extremely 
narrow ; and lastly, some are of a compound and 
very numerously-ramified appearance. Several 
are natives of the European seas, but the most 
striking are of exotic origin. Many have been ad- 
mirably figured in the work of Seba, and many in 
that of Link, an author who wrote a work on this 
genus in particular, accompanied by very numer- 
ous plates. As the strong and almost crustaceous 
skin of these animals admits of their being easily 
preserved in their natural appearance, they are, 
frequently seen in collections, and many of the 
most rare and curious species may be found in the 
British and Leverian Aluseums. Of the simpler 
kinds, or those with large, thick rays, the A. reti- 
culata is one of the largest, and most elegant; it 
often measures a foot in diameter, and is of a yel- 
lowish red colour, with the upper surface curiously 
tuberculated, and the margins of the rays jointed 
in such a manner as to appear as if artificially carv- 
