Ophiurians. KADI A T A. CTENOPHOna;. 
colxxvii 
CTENODISCUS {G. crispatus). — 'I’liis I'oriii ici most 
common in tlie colder waters of the northern coast. 
'I’lie generic term is derived from the resemblance of 
its under surface to the parts of a fine ivory comb. 
'I’lie peculiar structure of the ambulacra is thought to 
liave some relation to tlie liabit of living in the mud. 
Jt is destitute of the sucking-disks, so common to 
others of this class, and the tentacles are pointed, as 
if to facilitate working through the mud. 
SOLASTER {S. endeca) is a species common to the 
coast of Maine, in company witli the Crossaster. 
'I'he color is varied, in this respect resembling tlie 
Cribrella, as well as in the structure of the spines. 
OPHIURIANS. 
'I'his order has few examples represented in our 
waters. 'I’hey are all very shy, hiding in the darkest 
crevices in the rocks. No eye-specks, like those on 
the common Star-fish, have been detected ; yet they 
must be very sensitive, as the slightest movement or 
the gentlest approach causes them to retreat to their 
shelter. Unlike the Star-fishes, they have the disk 
entirely distinct from the aims, or rather, the arms 
seem to start abruptly from the central body, instead 
of merging gradually into it. 
OPHIOPHOLIS {0. iellis) is one of the few forms 
of this order found in northern waters ; it is brought 
from deep water by the fishermen, and is found in 
the Fishes caught along the shore. It is not seen on 
the beaches. White Amphiuea (Amphiura squam- 
ata) has long slender arms. 
ASTROPHYTON {A. agassizii), also called the Bas- 
ket-fish, is one of the strangest forms found in our 
waters. It is exceedingly rare, and is doubtless a 
deep-water creature and somewhat exclusive, as it 
seldom appears in company with other members of 
its race, or with any denizen of the deep. Its won- 
derful mass of entangling arms probably serves it to 
hold fast upon the bottom when other forms are torn 
away by the swaying of the heavy sea. In 1670, 
John Winthrop, Governor of Connecticut, sent a 
specimen of this Radiate to the Royal Society of 
London. “This Fish,” he says, “spreads itself from 
a pentagonal root which encompasseth the mouth 
(being in the middle) into five main limbs or branches, 
each of which, just at issuing from the body, subdi- 
vides itself into two, and each of these ten branches 
do again divide into two parts, making twenty lesser 
branches; each of which again divide into two 
smaller branches, making forty in all ; these again 
into eighty, and then into one hundred and sixty, 
and then into three hundred and twenty, then into 
six hundred and forty,” etc., etc. 'I'he governor 
goes on until he concludes by adding, “into eighty- 
one thousand nine hundred and twenty, beyond 
which the further expanding of the Fish could not be 
certainly traced.” 
CR1N01D.S. 
This order is one of a past geological age, tluu'e 
being few species now living. For a time they were 
the sole representatives of their class, and were so nu- 
merous that the one order was as important in point 
of variety as the i)resent five are in this age. 'I'he 
living examples are the Pentacriims, found in Porto 
Rico, and the Comatula. 'I'he former is attached 
permanently to a stem which is fast upon the sea 
bottom ; the latter is fixed in early stages of its 
growth, but is free when adult. 
COMATULA [Alecto meridionalis) is found on the 
coast of South Carolina. When spread out the 
upper surface has the aspect of an Ophiurian resting 
on a central pivot or stem. Along the sides of the 
rays are appendages which give them an appearance 
of feathers ; hence it is called Feathery-star. On 
one side there is a tough skin from which project the 
ambulacrse ; and on the same side are situated the 
mouth and anus. Opposite, the disk has plates, 
which are arranged around a central piece ; the latter 
is beset with long cirri. A large species is found on 
the coast of Greenland, and is occasionally brought 
from near Eastport, .Maine. 
Class — AC A LE PIIH3 — {Jelly-fishes). 
For a long time the true structure of these trans- 
parent, almost invisible, creatures was a mystery. 
'I'he investigations of Sars, Dujardin, Steenstrup and 
Van Beneden have given an understanding of their 
anatomy and of their strange modes of growth and 
reproduction. 'I'liree orders are now recognized, the 
highest being Gtenophorm, the next Discophorcs, and 
the other includes the Hydroids. 
C I'E NOP HOR M — ( Comh-bearers) . 
'I'his order is so named because the organs of loco- 
motion (which are arranged in the form of the slats 
to a blind, in several vertical rows) resemble the teeth 
of a comb in appearance. 'I'heir foi'in is beautifid, 
with the additional attraction of a constant play of 
iridescence upon the little paddles. Some species are 
so transparent that they can scarcely be seen, but t.he 
rippling lines of prismatic hues are distinctly visible 
while the creature is in motion. 
PLEUROBRACHIA {P.rhododactyla) is graceful and 
regular in form, and very common to the waters on 
the New England coast. 'I'hough so globular, this 
species is yet a little lengthened, and is regarded as 
exhibiting a tendency to a bilateral character. 'I'here 
are two curious appendages, like long tentacles, sus- 
pended from either side of the body. 
BOLINA {B. 'I'his is slightly oval in form, 
and differs from the preceding, in having two lobes, 
capable of entirely concealing the mouth. 
IDYIA (/. roseola) is the lowest genus found on 
our coast. It has neither lobes nor tentacles, but is 
an ovate bell-sluqied body, with a large digestive cav- 
ity and a correspondingly large mouth. 'I'he eye- 
speck is surrounded by a delicate fringe, forming a 
rosette at the end of the body. 
DISCO PHORiE. 
The forms of this order are familiar, and include 
the Common Sun-jelly and Sea-nettles, which are 
