142 



HOLOTHURIA. 



Bucker-feet are scattered over the entire surface. 

 If a holothuria be opened, almost the entire 

 cavity of the body is filled with small white 

 tubes, which are apt to tumble out, and become 

 inextricably confused, if care is not taken. 

 Indeed, at first sight, a freshly - opened sea^ 

 cucumber reminds one of the famous cucumber 

 in the " Arabian Nights," which was stufied with 

 pearls by command of the talking bird, only that 

 the sea-cucumber appears to have been stuffed 

 with white bobbin. These white threads are the 

 egg tubes. Altogether, it does not present the 

 most inviting aspect to the eye, nor does it 

 appear to be a very suitable object for the table. 

 Yet it is one of the favourite dishes of that 

 omnivorous nation, the Chinese, who pay large 

 sums for fine specimens. 



When the holothuria feels unwell, or is dis- 

 pleased, it has a very remarkable habit of dis- 

 pensing with its teeth, stomach, and entire diges- 

 tive apparatus, and so converting itself into a 

 mere empty bag, with an useless mouth at one 

 end of it. However, animals of this order are 

 not easily killed, and before very long a fresh set 

 begins to grow, and in a few months the holo- 

 thuria is as perfect as ever. The beautiful 

 feathery plume that surrounds the head, or 



