[ 3 6 ° ] 
wards, the animal can take a more fee lire holf • 
whatever it feizes. 
But as the ftem of this animal appears evident. , 
be broke off fhort at the bottom, we me it remain in 
doubt, whether it moves about in the lea, or is fixed 
to rocks and Ihells by a bafe, like corals, fponges, and 
keratophytons, until fome future difeovery fhali clear 
up this matter more to our fatisfa&ion. 
In examining the main ftem, or column we may 
obferve fome fingle joints or vertebra projecting a little 
farther than the reft. There are generally three or lour 
of thele in each divifion, between the whirls of arms ; 
the angular parts of thele joints end in fmall round 
knobs; but the knobs at the corners of the vertebra, 
immediately under the head of the animal, are re- 
markably larger than the reft. 
The joints or vertebrae of the ftem vary in thick- 
nefs, as well as in diameter; the common thicknefs is 
about one tenth of an inch ; but in the laft four di- 
vifions approaching towards the head, they gradually 
diminilh, till they become extremely thin. 
W e now come to what is called the head, perhaps 
the body of the animal; Tor in the center of this dry 
fpecimen, there ftill remains a cup of a cruftaceous 
fubftance, and of an oval form, about an inch in 
length, three quarters of an inch over, and a quarter 
of an inch deep ; in the center of this, as was obferved 
before, is a fmall hole, which apparently communi- 
cates with the internal part of the vertebras of the 
ftem : in this cup, or cavity, it is probable, were the 
inteftines and ftomach of the animal, as in the afterias, 
called caput Medufas. This cup is fupported by the 
bafes 
