354 



that's IT; 



the surfaces of bodies by the 

 means of a terminal disc. They 

 also serve as feet, and by means 

 of them the animal can walk 

 about with great facility. 



Let the wanderer by the sea-side pick up a 

 living star-fish, and place it in some transparent 

 pool ieft by the tide. Watch it there, and soon 

 the most incurious looker-on will find himself 

 compelled to gaze in mute astonishment at what 

 he sees. From the interior surface of each ray, 

 the creature which before appeared so helpless 

 and inanimate, protrudes numbers of fleshy 

 tubes, which move about in search of firm hold- 

 ing places, and are soon fixed, by means of little 

 suckers at the end of each, to the smooth surface 

 of a neighbouring stone. When these have laid 

 fast hold, others appear in quick succession, and 

 likewise are attached to the smooth surface, till 

 at last hundreds of little legs, for such these 

 suckers seem, are actively employed, and by 

 their aid the creature glides along with such a 

 gentle motion, that it seems rather to swim than 

 to crawl. Thus roused into activity, we watch 

 its movements, and perceive that it has appetites 

 and instincts that direct its course. Place 

 within its reach a piece of tainied fish, or other 

 sea-side carrion, and it will soon find it out, and 

 clasping it between its rays, will swallow and 

 digest it.* 



The usual number of rays is 

 five ; but there are various other 

 numbers, from three to nine. In 

 some the rays are long and slender, 

 in others short and obtuse ; some- 

 times covered with spines, or 

 otherwise with smooth or granu- 

 lated plates. The brittle star- 



arranged in beautiful patterns. 

 It is called brittle from the cu- 

 rious property of spontaneously 

 dividing itself, separating into 

 pieces with wonderful quickness 

 and ease. Touch it, and it flings 

 away an arm ; hold it, and in a 

 moment not an arm remains 

 attached to the body.* 



Jelly fishes, 3, are curious 

 creatures, usually transparent 



1170. 



fish, 2, is one of the handsomest 

 specimens, displaying in addition 

 to its curious form, vivid hues, 



* Mr. Uymer Jones. 



and gelatinous, whence they de- 

 rive their name. They are some- 

 times also called sea-nettles, on 

 account of their stinging proper- 

 ties. Many have a disc more or 

 less concave above, similar to that 

 of a mushroom, and called the 

 umbrella. By the flapping of 

 this disc they contrive to make 

 their way through the water. 

 One of the species called the 

 cydippe, 4, is the most remark- 

 able. It is of a globular form, 

 sometimes a little elongated at 

 the two extremities, and about 

 three-quarters of an inch in 

 length. It is composed of a 

 delicate jelly - like substance, 

 strengthened by eight longitudi- 

 nal bands of somewhat firmer 

 texture. This animal is provided 

 with fishing lines, in the form of 



* Foibes's History of B<its»h Star-i'i&hes. 



