SKELETON OF STAR-FISH. 131 



without the assistance of any tool, he would nm 

 considerable risk of starvation. The ancient 

 naturalists were well aware that the star-fish 

 possessed the power of eating oysters, but they 

 thought that the creature accomplished its design 

 by watching until an oyster opened its shell, and 

 then poking one of its rays between the shells as 

 a wedge; then, having once gained a partial 

 admission, it slowly insinuated itself, and finished 

 by devouring the inhabitant. It, appears, how- 

 ever, by the reports of careful observers, that the 

 oyster-eating is true as to the fact, but false as to 

 the mode. The star-fish seems to bring its mouth 

 in contact with the edge of the shell, and then 

 from some delicate vesicles never protruded at 

 any other time, to pour into the oyster some 

 drops of a poisonous fluid, which forces the 

 animal to open the shells, and finally kills it. 

 Such is the account as it stands at present. 



The skeleton of the star-fish is one of the most 

 complicated structures imaginable, much too 

 complicated for description here. It may easily 

 be obtained by any one who wishes to possess 

 such an object, if he takes a perfect specimen 

 of the creature, and places it near an ants' nest. 

 In a very few days, the ants will nibble it to 

 pieces with their sharp, sickle-like jaws, and eat 



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