CHAPTER XI. 



Echinodermata {Star -fishes). 

 Continued, 



The English name of Brittle-star refers to a peculiarity 

 very characteristic of the stellar forms of this class of 

 animals, — an unhappy tendency to suicide. The eager 

 naturalist, in dredging for these interesting creatures, is 

 often annoyed and disappointed by seeing some fine spe- 

 cimen that comes up from the depths, crumble into frag- 

 ments by a spontaneous movement, the instant he endea- 

 vours to lay hands upon it. Professor Forbes has described 

 his experience of this habit in the case of Luidia fra- 

 gilissinia, the Lingthorn, a seven-armed species, some two 

 feet in expanse. The passage has been often quoted, but 

 it is so graphic, so descriptive, so full of humour, that we 

 must beg permission to enliven our pages with it : — 



" The first time I ever took one of these creatures, I 

 succeeded in getting it into the boat entire. Never hav- 

 ing seen one before, and quite unconscious of its suicidal 

 powers, I spread it out on a rowing-bench, the better to 

 admire its form and colours. On attempting to remove 

 it for preservation, to my horror and disappointment I 

 found only an assemblage of rejected members. My con- 



