guiili and fade foon as the fun-beams Alike, or the breezes blow upon them.- A 11 
from which the drawings are made, were in full health and vigour, dredged up affloOc? 
corals, in about thirty fathom water. 
This Star, by Mr. Pennant and by Linckius, is diftinguifhed by the ep lt! 
Oculatus , and at firft fight appears well entitled to the appellation : for the more rc 
markable of thefe members, wherewith it is feathered over, have much the appear 311 ^ 
of a multitude of eyes, as in the ray b : but when highly magnified, and examin e 
with care, as in the fpecimen given at B. they are found to be organs of life, moft ^ 
licately formed, contrived for inhaling nourilhment, or fome vital principles, from 
tide, and vary their appearance according to the feveral parts of the adtion whei eIlt 
they are engaged. 
The likenefs of eyes proceeds from the luftre of femi-tranfparent films, which 3 
protruded at pleafure from cavities in the body of the Star ; and the black fpeck in c 
centre of each is owing to the deep opening of the aperture within. Thefe more d e 
licate organs are enclofed or guarded by rows of tubular fuckers, of a firmer or gi - ’^ 
nature, which, when the animal is dried, feem only as fo many feales. 
1 he others, that iffue from beneath the rays, at c. c. c. as is generally known, are p r0 
perly the inftruments of motion, and with which it can fo tenacioufiy adhere to c 
rocks, as not only to glide equally fecure and firm along the under part of the ^hel v ' eS, 
but cannot without violence be difengaged from them. . 
Thevefture of polypes, occupied by this Star, do not uniformly, and but very ^ 
dom, adt in a body : any great alarm may caufe the whole to fhrinkj but at times ea 
feems to feel for itfelf alone, and, when apprehenfive of danger, withdraws ; the oth erS 
not fympathizing with that movement, but continue ftretched forth until feverally 111 
fnnidated. It is certainly, however, probable that the animal, as a whole, muft 
in all thofe feparate fenfationsj and affords a curious fubjedt, were we to indulg e r 
fledtion on the peculiar nature of its enjoyments. 
It certainly, in the trueft fenfe of the phrafe, is feelingly alive all over ; and 
organs wherewith it is covered have various modifications, and doubtlefs n ^ 
different offices, which they peiform in fupport of the general fyftem. The 
fc- 
in 
veral fenfations of touch and tafle, which the connedting principle muft participle 
from their miniftry, will be ever diverfifying the inftindtive pleafures derived from 
quiring fuftenancej and, inhaling the falutary juices of the fea, by fo complex an & 
ganization, be the means of its receiving a perpetual fpecies of animation, imbibe^ 
every pore. So that, although deftituteof all the more extenfive and entertaining ie 
les, they may be far from void of amufement, but have a continual intereft in the c ° n 
tents of the element around them ; and, having their fenfibilities awakened by num 
lefs circumftances, preferve an intimate connexion with the environs of their own 
fphere, and tafte the comfort of the inceffant application of their feveral powe*' s 
preferve their deftined exiftence there. 
The confultations of nature, for the prefervation of her innumerable offspring) 
•wonderful, and devoutly to be admired ! 3 
bei" 
little 
io 
arc 
