THE FEATHER-STAR. 
553 
years. It is totally unlike the form which it attains when mature, and the relationship between 
the adult Star-fish and the Plutens, as the larva is termed, has been well compared to the 
relation of an embroidery frame to the pictured canvas within. 
The wonderful creature which is called by the name of Shetland Argus is one of a most 
remarkable genus of Star-fishes, which are remarkable for the vast development of their arms. 
Although the whole mass of arms is of so complicated a description, it will be found, on 
carefully examining the creature, to be formed by the simple process of twofold division. 
From the central disc spring five stout arms, each of which almost immediately divides into 
two smaller arms, and these again into two others ; so that in a fine specimen the number of 
little arms or tendrils, if we may so call them, exceeds eighty thousand. All these organs are 
extremely flexible, and quite under the control of the animal, which is able to close or expand 
them at will. When the extremities of the arms are drawn together, it will be seen that the 
whole animal assumes the shape of a globular basket ; and in consequence of this resemblance, 
the name of Basket-urchin, or Sea-basket, has been proposed for the creature. 
It takes its food by means of these wonderful arms, using itself, in fact, like a living 
casting net, surrounding the prey with the spread arms, and inclosing it within their multi- 
tudinous lines. It has been known to embrace in this manner a fisherman’s bait, and to allow 
itself to be drawn to the surface without losing its hold. It is one of the deep-sea Star-fishes, 
and is very seldom taken except by means of the dredge or line. 
The structure of the Shetland Argus is most marvellously complicated, inasmuch as each 
of the numerous arms is composed of an enormous number of small joints, each exactly in its 
place, and so beautifully connected together, that they are as flexible as silken cords, and yet 
as perfectly under the command of their owner as if they were restricted to the original five 
from which they take their origin. 
The elegant and graceful Star-fish which is appropriately named the Feather-star, is a 
native of the English coasts, and has always attracted the attention of sea-side observers. It 
is not very readily seen, being one of the deep water species, but it may be captured by means 
of the dredge, and will live for some time in the marine aquarium. It is a very active being, 
combining in its own person the accomplishments of many different Star-fishes. For example, 
it can crawl with tolerable speed over the ground, can swim through the water with sufficient 
power to direct its course, can float about at will, driven by the tide, and will sometimes clasp 
pieces of floating wood, so as to be carried along by the waves without any fatigue. 
Its habits while in the aquarium are very interesting, and have been well described by 
Mr. Grosse : — 
“ In captivity, the Feather-star sits upon the frond of a sea- weed or on a projecting angle of 
rock, which it grasps very firmly with its clawed filaments, so firmly that it is difficult to tear 
it from its hold. When violence is used, it catches hold of its support, or any other object 
within reach, with the tips of its arms, which it hooks down for the purpose, and with its 
pinnge, so that it seems furnished with so many claws, the hard, stony nature of which is 
revealed by the creaking, scratching noise they make as they are forced from any hold, as if 
they were made of glass. 
“I was surprised to observe that several of the arms were un symmetrically short ; and on 
examining these with a lens, saw distinctly that each had been broken off, and was renewed ; 
the new part agreeing in structure and color with the rest, but the joints were much less in 
diameter ; and this difference was strongly marked at the point of union, the first of the new 
joints being not more than one-third as wide as its predecessor. The appearance much reminded 
me of a lizard renewing its tail. 
“In sitting, the Feather-star bends its arms with a sigmoid curve, the tips bending 
upwards. It waves them now and then, but not much, and remains long without moving from 
its hold. Though I repeatedly took it out of the water, removing it forcibly, it manifested no 
tendency to voluntary dislocation.” 
Perhaps, however, the strangest part of the Comatula’ s life is its early youth. 
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