RADIATED STAR. 
W HEN we furvey this vaft univerfe, with that amplitude of thought which the 
midnight fcene of the heavens infpires, the immenfity of thefe boundlefi fields of 
v onder fo fills the mind, that even to return to theconfideration of the order of the fea- 
? ns > and the earth’s annual orbit, feems to be contra&ing our view ; and (bill more fo 
ae inveftigation of the inferior arrangements of nature v yet when we follow out any 
j ne Part of the fyftem, through the marvellous contrivances of its formation, bv a phi- 
j 0 ' o Phic infpedlion of the minuted: atom of the organized world, the mind is equally 
0 1 in admiration, as in the furvey of the mvriads of funs, and other worlds that fur- 
r °und us . 
r There are unfeen properties of being which our realon cannot defcry ; perhaps the 
ec 5>ndite fprings of vegetation, and myfterious unfoldings of animal life, equally fur- 
* )a ^ 0u r underftanding as the fublime attributes of the firft agent of the univerfe. 
The intelle<5bual treafures that may be gathered in the vaft empire of .nature, are as 
Iv 5 r fified as extenfive— we can imbibe but a few detached rays of an infinite light, 
llc h is profufely poured through all the departments of creation. 
a ,0 every inftance the light of heaven feems to embellifli the path of admiration, 
J 10 ) infpired by this, all the beauties of nature feem confulted, to fill the affections of 
'hearts with joy. 
v ^hen intent on any particular fubjeCt of wonder, that occurs amid the endlefs di- 
^ er fities of animated being, the delight of the mind ever rifes in proportion as it de- 
in rT es the more hidden confultations of wildom, which has arranged their organs, and 
m °rmed their frame. 
c f he occafionally feleCting infiances, where the beautiful arrangements of {kill are 
rQl nently confpicuous, and where exquifite contrivances embellifli their ufeful ftruc- 
— the taking leifure to dwell, with fuitable attention, even on the fmalleft of thefe 
fvft nC * ers — ^as htfluence, by degrees, gradually to infpire that general admiration of the 
anH 1 in which we bear a part, which is one of the happieft of human attainments, 
d makes the ftudious appropriate, with equal delight and inftruftion, the moft mi- 
as the grandeft difplays of that Intelligence which has ordered the univerfe. 
f 0 ' beautiful Star * of the plate, to which the term f radiated is applied, is never 
on the fhores, but comes up with ftones from corally grounds of the deep. The 
Pithet feems to have been given it, on account of that fpread of various- coloured rays 
k eaat ify the circle of its body. 
f 0 ne under part of the body, fig. B, comprehending the mouth, is no lefs elegantly 
j/^ed; a pentagonal inclofure of the pureft white and highly-polifiied bones, prettily 
^P^d, and difpofed with excellent fymmetry, conftitute an arrangement of organs, 
ufe and importance we can but in part difcover. 
f al j l S; a- is the moft common fize in which thefe ftars are found— none have been 
th e e ? ’ n h ere fo l ar g e as that reprefented at A. It was purpofely magnified in 
9nc j drawing, to give fcope for more adequately exprefling the very ornamental form 
t, *oades of the ftony fcales which cover its jointed rays, 
tou r fome peculiarities obfervable, and the apparently fingular nature of the nume- 
if ines which arm its rays, merit a ftill more particular infpetftion : they offer a 
minuter inveftigation, and require an ampler difcuflion. 
c w as mentioned, that thefe ftars are dredged up in deep water with ftones from a 
I r 
tio ns ** "ORIas’s Cornwall fome refembling fpecies of ftars are figured, pi. xxv ; but the reprefenta- 
4. inaccurate and unfinifhed, it is difficult to afcertain whether they are varieties or the fame. 
ee Er, Zool. vol. iv. p. 54. N°65, 66 , 
j corally 
'41 
