pentad actylos aster oculatus * 
I T has always been in view, that this department of the work fliould be confidered 
as fupplemental to the British Zoology, as far as it extends to marine animals. 
n °t fo much in bringing unknown fubjefts into view, as by giving a more minute detail 
°f the feveral energies of thofe living creatures of the ocean, the peculiarities of whole 
ftr ufture has been lead attended to. The inducement to this is, the frequent oppor- 
tu nity of Purveying them in their more animated and healthy eftate; and o ta ing 
Sawings from the life, while they enjoy their native element, undifturbed an ree. 
Drawings made from thofe animals, fuch as the fofter Stars, when dried ( ow^\ er 
Car efully preferved in the cabinets of the curious) mud ever be deficient in exprel ing 
organs of life ; becaufe, as foon as they ceafe to be exerted, they in a gieat mea ure 
0 e both their native form and beauty. _ _ 
The truth of this remark appears to be peculiarly evinced, and in a right ri ving 
Tanner, with regard to the fpecies of Star reprefented in the plate, fig. A. For 
fofiie of the firft naturalifts, Swammerdam , Borlafe , and Hill , take no notice of the le 
§'on of vital organs, wherewith this animal is covered over ; nor does it appear that 
a,1 y other has ever regarded them as aftive powers. 
. A- circumftance, which fuggefted an idea, that thefe Stars po fie fifed fome mode Oi ex- 
'^ e nce, that had not been defcribed, was, that they are often dredged up. from the Co- 
ia l regio ns of the deep, and no kind of coralline is ever found adhering to them ; yet 
backs, and even the claws, of the moft active crabs that inhabit thole parts, as the 
^ et rdbdon, are generally thick fet with various corallines. It was probable, that tins fo 
llr >ifo rrn prefervation was owing to fome provifion of nature for the fafety of the Stars: 
the delineation here given, of their wonderful cloathing, certainly ferves to fhew, 
at the above conclufion was not formed in vain. 
Nothing but their whole frames being replete with various life, which inftinftively 
deft >-oys the infant feeds of the armies of corallines among which they dwell, could have 
P re ferved them from being planted on by thefe a&ive and induftrious artificers. 
, This fpecies of Star (from many individuals of which, and by a very elaborate procefs, 
r ^wing s were made, with all the affiftance that aquatic tniciofcopes could give) vanes 
ln c olour, from a light crimfon to a very deep purple; and in fize, from the final left 
difcernible, to one about half the dimenfions of the drawing. They are alio 
found larger than that of the plate : but thefe would feem to be in old age, and 
e decline of life : their living raiment difclofes lefs beauty and energy. This may 
e '■he caule of the large ones being found on the coaft, when they hav*. fled from the 
Tal regi ons w here they would have been deftroyed. In this ftate they fometimes 
Ceupy tPjg fjggp p Q0 ] s near to low-water mark but never, if at all wftl, a ow tiem 
, tlve s to be left dry by the tide of ebb ; for this precaution feems effentially necelfary 
° tllei r prefervation, as all thofe beautiful organs, that miniftcr to their exiftence, lan- 
guifli 
* Br. Zoo!, vol. iv. p. 52. 
CL 
