100 
LIFE, IN ITS LOWER FORMS. 
servative endeavours were all neutralised by its destructive 
exertions, and it is now badly represented in my cabinet 
by an armless disk and a diskless arm. Next time I went 
to dredge on the same spot, determined not to be cheated 
out of a specimen in such a way a second time, I brought 
with me a bucket of cold fresh water, to which article Star- 
fishes have a great antipathy. As I expected, a Luiclia 
came up in the dredge, a most gorgeous specimen. As it 
does not generally break up before it is raised above the 
surface of tho sea, cautiously and anxiously I sunk my 
bucket to a level with tho dredge’s mouth, and proceeded 
in tho most gentle manner to introduce Luidia to the 
purer element. Whether the cold air was too much for 
him, or the sight of tho bucket too terrific, I know not, 
but in a moment he proceeded to dissolve his corporation, 
and at every mesh of the dredge his fragments were seen 
escaping. In despair I grasped at the largest, and brought 
up the extremity of an arm with its terminating eye, the 
spinous.eyelid of which opened and closed with something 
exceedingly like a wink of derision.” * 
The Liugthorn, by the length and slenderness of its 
rays, and by the comparative minuteness of its disk, as 
well as by the fragility just mentioned, bears evidences of 
close relationship with the Brittle-stars ; yet it truly be- 
longs to another order of the class, the Star-fishes distinct- 
ively so called. The surface is not here formed of angular 
imbricate plates, but of a tough leathery or cartilaginous 
skin, strengthened by calcareous plates imbedded in its 
substance, and more or less studded with spines or tuber- 
cles. The Cross-fish, or Five-finger ( Uraster rubens), that 
* Forbes’ “ Brit. Star-fishes," 138. 
