354 the living ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
Photo by IV, Sa-viUe-Kent^ F,Z.S, 
SEA-CUCUMBER, OR BECHE-DE-MER 
These animals are collected in 'vast quantities on the Australian Great Barrier 
Reefy smokedy and sent to the Chinese market 
outlying portions becoming 
gradually absorbed. Some of 
the brittle-stars and sea- 
cucumbers bring forth their 
young in the adult form, 
nursing them from the egg in 
special breeding-chambers. 
The capacity of a star-fish 
to renew its lost arms is 
commonly manifested. Asingle 
detached arm, moreover, in such 
a type as the common five- 
fingered species, can reproduce 
its body and the remaining four 
arms. Fishermen, who are in 
the habit of tearing up star- 
fishes and throwing them back 
into the water, under the im- 
pression that they are thus 
effectually incapacitating them 
from further injury to their 
oyster-beds, commit an error, 
such mutilation tending to the 
multiplication of their numbers. 
In the matter of colour-ornamentation the Star-fish group is richly endowed. Allusion 
to the brilliant crimson and pink-and-white tints of the British sun star-fish has been 
already made. As with most animal groups, however, it is amid their tropical representatives 
that the most striking colour-variations obtain. One form which is common among the coral- 
reefs on the Queensland coast-line, and much resembles the common British “ five-fingers ” 
in size and shape, is brilliant ultramarine-blue. Another large pentagonal species, belonging to 
the group known as Cushion- 
stars, has a golden-brown 
ground, upon which are 
thickly scattered small bead- 
like tubercles of turquoise. 
A third form, not un- 
common on the Tasmanian 
coast-line, which is nearly 
related to the Bird’s-foot 
species, previously mentioned, 
is distinguished by tints which 
range through several shades 
of crimson to brilliant violet. 
Not a few of the star- 
fishes are notable for their 
eminent phosphorescent 
properties. The group of 
the Snake-armed and Brittle- 
stars are more especially ^ 
... . , , . , . ?hato by W. Saville-Ktnt, F.Z.S.] [Milfcrd-on-Sea 
distinguished m this respect. 
Many of these species PRICKLY SEA-CUCUMBER 
occur in such numbers in TAis species of beche-de-mer commands a high price in China, and makes delicious soup 
