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A STROLL BY THE SEA-SIDE. 245 
So in the sea, between high and low-water mark is an 
assemblage of animals and plants peculiar to that area, and 
this is called the littoral zone; from low-water mark to 
about fifteen fathoms another group of plants and animals 
are found, and as the Laminaria grows to profusion in this 
zone, it is called the laminarian zone. Below this we have 
the coralline zone, and deep sea-coral zone. Many animals 
range through all these zones, but there is a sufficient num- 
ber of species restricted to each, which give each zone a 
determinate character. Thus the Laminaria is an envoy from 
another zone, coming ‘laden with the animals and plants pe- 
culiar to its zone. As we are confining ourselves to those 
forms that are abundant between high and low-water mark, 
We must reluctantly leave for another time the treasures that 
this sea-weed possesses. 
The common starfish, or five-finger jack (Plate 6, fig. 11), 
!s one of the abundant forms under rocks at low-water mark. 
By throwing back the masses of sea-weed that conceal the 
rocks near the water’s edge, they may be found of all sizes, 
and of every shade of brick-red, crimson, and purple. How 
fast they cling as we attempt to pluck them from the rocks, 
g by examining the underside of the fingers, or arms, we 
notice rows of suckers, that look like so many worms twist- 
mg and writhing in every direction! Dropping one into a 
of sea-water, we soon see the admirable use that is 
made of these suckers, for now they act like so many little ` 
8s. These. suckers are enabled to project some little dis- 
tance from the animal, and by these the animal is carried 
from one place to another. How gently they glide over the 
uneven surface of the rock, each sucker in turn reaching in 
advance and securing a hold, and, after contracting and thus 
pa lling the body along, relaxing for a new start! Perhaps 
by diligent search you may capture a starfish at his dinner, 
TR e way he has of eating it. Mussels, beach- 
ae 
cockles, and shell-fish, form the favorite food of the starfish. 
