126 



FIVE-FINGER STAR-FISH. 



fish " in the present case, and jelly-fish" in a 

 succeeding chapter. 



Every one has heard of star-fish, and most 

 people have seen them, either in a preserved 

 state, or as they appear when thrown up by 

 the waves. There are very many British species 

 of star-fishes, but out of them I have chosen 

 three, as types, to which, indeed, most of the 

 species can be referred. The commonest of the 

 British star-fishes is the Five-finger (TJ raster 

 7'ubens) ; for a figure of which see plate L, fig. 4. 

 There are few days when some of these creatures 

 are not cast on the shore, and there left by the 

 retirino^ tide, so that their habits and anatomv 

 may be easily studied. Generally they appear to 

 be dead, and, indeed, sometimes are so ; but their 

 apparent death is often but quiescence, and if 

 they are placed in sea-water they become lively 

 in a very short time. 



If a star-fish is thus rescued, and laid in a 

 shallow rock-pool, where its movements can be 

 watched, it will give ample food for contem- 

 plation, were it only for the mode in which it 

 moves from one place to another. This move- 

 ment is very slow, gentle, and so regular, that 

 the eye cannot detect any motive power at work. 

 Should a stone, a ridge of rock, or any other 



