STAR-FISHES. 
99 
CHAPTER XI. 
Echinodermata ( Star-fishes ). 
Continued. 
The English name of Brittle-star refers to a peculiarity 
very characteristic of the stellar forms of this class of 
animals, — an unhappy tendency to suicide. The eager 
naturalist, in dredging for these interesting creatures, is 
often annoyed aud disappointed by seeing some fine spe- 
cimen that comes up from the depths, crumble into frag- 
ments by a spontaneous movement, the instant lie endea- 
vours to lay hands upon it. Professor Forbes has described 
his experience of this habit in the case of Luidia fra- 
gilissima, the Lingthorn, a seven-armed species, some two 
feet in expanse. The passage has been often quoted, but 
it is so graphic, so descriptive, so full of humour, that we 
must beg permission to enliven our pages with it : — 
“ The first time I ever took one of these creatures, I 
succeeded in getting it into the boat entire. Never hav- 
ing seen one before, and quite unconscious of its suicidal 
powers, I spread it out on a rowing-bench, the better to 
admire its form and colours. On attempting to remove 
it for preservation, to my horror and disappointment I 
found only an assemblage of rejected members. My con- 
