357 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Septembke 1], 1860. 
distance into the arms. In the Sea Egg again, the intestine is 
very much elongated, and winds round in the body. Some of 
the Sea Eggs are furnished with a strangely complicated masti¬ 
cating apparatus which has been frequently described under the 
denomination of “the lantern of Aristotle.” It consists of a 
curious framework of calcareous pieces, shaped somewhat like 
the Roman numeral Y, which are furnished at their anterior ex¬ 
tremities with five hard triangular teeth. The creatures possess¬ 
ing this apparatus feed principally upon vegetable matter; those 
on the contrary which are destitute of masticating organs are 
dependent for the greater part of the food upon minute Crustacea 
and other marine animals, the shells of which may be frequently 
lound in their intestines. The organs of motion are very similar 
throughout the whole class, and consist of a multitude of small 
feet, which are protruded through certain apertures left for 
the special purpose in particular plates, and through the in¬ 
terstices of the calcareous pieces composing the case of the 
animal. The structure of these minute organs is curious and 
interesting. They appear to be, when in a state of perfection, 
vermiform tubes, having at the extremities a distinct sucking 
disc, which is kept stretched to its peculiar form by means of a 
small calcareous ring. These tubes communicate by their 
apertures with small vesicles holding fluid, and situated beneath 
the shell; and it is by the contraction of these vesicles, and the 
consequent propulsion of the fluid into the cavity of the tubes, 
that .the extension of the feet is effected. The walls of the feet 
are composed of two muscular coats—an inner longitudinal one, 
and an outer one circular. It is by the peculiar action of these 
that the feet are enabled to move about in the water, when 
seeking an object to attach themselves to. The longitudinal coat 
is also brought into action for the purpose of contracting the 
foot, as soon as the relaxation of the corresponding vesicle allows 
the fluid to flow back from the cavity of the tube. Whereupon, 
if the terminal sucking disc be attached to any fixed object, the 
body of the animal is naturally drawn in the direction of such 
contraction. It requires, however, the combined and simultaneous 
action of a number of these small motive organs in order to move 
a Star Fish or a Sea Egg, the animal being of a size so utterly 
disproportionate to the diminutive feet on which its locomotion 
depends. It is very interesting to watch one of the creatures in 
motion. The little suckers are seen extended in every direction, 
looking like semi-transparent threads. Presently one attaches 
itself, then another, then another, until at last the contraction 
of a number of them together suffices to drag their unwieldly 
proprietor a step onwards. By means of these organs the creature 
can climb up glass, and will adhere so firmly that it may be 
broken off, leaving its limbs clinging to the surface. All Echi- 
noderms have a distinct apparatus for circulation, which consists 
of an organ corresponding to a heart, and an intricate system of 
vessels. 
It may be remarked that the order which includes the Star 
Fishes is very extensive, and comprises many species in which 
may be observed a gradual obliteration of the rays and a cor¬ 
responding development of the body or disc. This change takes 
place by the filling up of the angles between the arms until the 
creature alters its character of five-fingered, assuming a five-sided 
outline. The “Bird’s-foot Star,” an elegant British specimen, 
will serve as an illustration of this form. From this condition 
may be easily imagined the disappearance of the angles also, as 
in some species—the sides becoming progressively convex until 
the creature assumes a nearly orbicular figure. Such is the 
aspect of a rare specimen of Eehinoderms, called “ the Cake 
Urchin.” 
After a few words on their mode of generation we shall proceed 
to the examination of particular members of the family. The 
egg on impregnation becomes converted into an embryo of a 
globular form furnished with cilia, which presently breaks through 
the shell, and swims about freely in the water. This soon 
changes into an irregular hexahedron, which, gradually increasing 
in size, forms at last a four-sided pyramid. There is an opening 
in the centre of the base of this pyramid, which is the mouth, 
and leads into the stomach. This opening also contains four or 
more calcareous supports running from one extremity to the 
other, and projecting at the base in four pointed spines. Cilia 
are very numerous along the course of these supports, and still 
serve the animal for purposes of locomotion. At a later period 
the larva acquires a still more pyramidal form, and the calcareous 
supports are surrounded by ciliated lobes. But now comes the 
most singular part of the process : Thth larva itself is not actually 
converted into a living Echinoderm; but the latter sprouts, as 
it were, from it, and on arriving at maturity scarcely retains a 
trace of the embryo from whence it sprang. This is effected in 
the Ophiura (Serpent’s-tail) in this fashion: Small sacs first 
appear within the larva, encircling the mouth, which, gradually 
growing out, unite and represent the disk of the animal. After 
a short time the new creature forms a mouth for itself, having 
hitherto derived its nourishment by the mouth of the larval 
The arms now begin to sprout; and very shortly appears the 
first commencement of the.calcareous skeleton, under the form of 
little reticular grains in the substance of the animal. After a 
further development the larva is cast off altogether, and the 
young “Serpent’s-tail” presents the perfect form of its parent; 
still, however, for some little time retaining its cilia, and using 
them for the purpose of swimming, but these eventually dis¬ 
appear. The only part of the larva adopted by the perfect 
animal, and that greatly modified, is the intestinal canal. The 
point at which the connection between the larva and its developed 
bud was broken off is always marked by a plate of a peculiar 
character. 
We have only to add that Eehinoderms are found in all seas, 
and shall now proceed to examine these strange and beautiful 
creatures more in detail.—W. 
(To he continued .) 
TIFFANY AS A SHELTER OF FRUIT FROM 
BIRDS. 
As I find it impossible to keep my fruit from birds, I purpose 
to cover a large space with net another year, high enough to 
walk under; but as net is so apt to get torn by catching in the 
Gooseberry bushes especially, and does not keep out heavy rains 
wasps, flies, &c., the thought has struck me whether a house of 
tiffany would not be better. Might it be allowed to remain up all 
the year ? If so, it would be useful as a protection for Cauli¬ 
flower plants, &c., during the winter which might be planted 
between the rows of Currant bushes, &c. —A Devonshire Yicae 
[We would recommend you to make your tiffany-house a per¬ 
manent structure ; for while it is an effectual protection against 
birds and wasps, and, to a considerable extent, against frosts, it 
admits a sufficient amount of rain, which comes in like a thick 
dewing, and quite enough for the purposes of cultivation. We 
do not know yet how it will affect the ripening of fruit.] 
HEATING VINE-BORDERS. 
“In The CottageGaedenee for June, 1S58, page 136, is a 
letter from Mr. Fish, in reply to an inquiry from ‘ G. H. A.,’ in 
which Mr. Fish seems highly to recommend the heating of Vine- 
borders by means of hot-water pipes in a chamber beneath the 
border. I wish to ask if Mr. Fish still recommends the plan ; and, 
also, if 1 G. H. A.’ can give any account of his having success¬ 
fully adopted the method on which he seemed about to enter. It 
is a subject of great importance to all who may be erecting houses 
for Vines, and would involve little additional expense if done at 
first. Any information, particularly if accompanied with a 
description of such a plan in actual use, would be a public benefit. 
Also, m such a plan, whether it would be better to train the Vines 
down the rafters instead of up them?”—W. B. 
I COBdiaxly join in the opinion of our correspondent, that the 
subject is one of great importance. I regret I can add little or 
nothing to the opinions and practice detailed already in these 
pages; but would be glad to have the opinions and practice of 
others unfolded for our information and guidance. I have 
hunted through a number of volumes of gardening literature to 
find a plan of the vinery at Lord Belpcr’s, at Kingston Hall, 
near Derby, but I have failed to find it, though I know a rather 
full account, as well as a plan, was given some years ago. Perhaps 
if this meet the eye of the successor of the late Mr. Mackie, he 
would be induced to give the details afresh, and also the state 
and condition of that splendid vinery now. When I saw it the 
leaves were very small in proportion to the hard, short-jointed 
wood, and the fine branches which hung all over the house very 
thickly, and as equally distant from each other as if they had been 
set out with a pair of compasses. The training was much the 
same as our correspondent, at the page alluded to, contemplated 
—viz., a spurred red run up in the centre of a ridge-sash, the 
roof being ridge and furrow, facing the south, and each ridge 
