389 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
able, would seem to imply that it is totally unworthy of credit, 
as le testifies to having handled many of them and experienced 
no burning sensation, and adds that he has never met with any 
pirson who has felt it. 
The “ Five-Finger ” preys upon all kinds of molluscs, but not 
exclusively upon them. The lug-worms used as baits by fisher¬ 
men are often seized by it: in which case, of course, the unlucky 
Uraster falls a victim to his voracity. 
On the southern and eastern coasts these creatures are used 
for manure, and are said to answer the purpose admirably. 
“ Clams” or “ Cramps ” are the names by which they are known 
in Cornwall; whilst the Irish have designated them “ Devil’s 
Fingers,” or “Devil’s Hands.” 
Little Cboss Fish {Uraster hispida). —This creature is the 
smallest of our native Cross Fishes—generally of a bright rose 
colour, occasionally brown; it has short, rounded, spinous rays— 
and seldom measures more than a quarter of an inch across the 
body ; the rays are very little longer than the breadth of the disc, 
and are sometimes even shorter. 
The Little Cross Fish is a scarce species, and in places where 
it is met with never occurs in any large quantities. It has been 
found in Anglesea, in crevices of low rocks on the coast of Ross- 
shire, and under stones on the shore in the Kyles of Bute. It 
may be met with, also, on the eastern coast of Scotland. 
SoLASTEBBE. 
The Eyed Ceibella {Criiella oculata). —The rays and disc 
of this animal are covered irregularly with oblong spiniferous 
tubercles ; the rays themselves, five in number, are rounded, and 
generally about four times as long as the body is broad. At the 
end of each ray is an eye, protected by an irregularly ovate ring of 
spines. Its colour is generally red, or deep purple, above, and 
straw colour beneath; the smaller sort are lighter, and are some¬ 
times seen of a rich vermilion tint. They seldom measure more 
than three inches and a half across. 
The Eyed Cribella varies much in the localities it chooses. 
It is generally on the east coast found among the rocks at low 
water; whereas, on the west, it must be dredged for in deep 
water; but this rule does not invariably hold good. They are 
very common in the Irish Sea, and off the coast of Anglesea; 
nor are they at all rare in Cornwall. The east coast of Scotland 
swarm9 with them, and at low water on the Shetland Isles they 
may be found by hundreds, swimming about with the greatest 
ease and activity. 
The Rosy Ceibella {Criiella rosea) has both rays and disc 
covered with regular longitudinal rows of triangular spiniferous 
GENTLEMAN, September 2b, 1860. 
very numerous, rough and blunted. The breadth of the disc is 
about one inch, and the thickness of the rays at their insertion 
about half an inch. The colour is bright orange. It is almost 
exclusively a resident on the Irish coa 9 t. 
Pubple Sen Stab {Solaster eudeca). —This animal has from 
nine to eleven rays, considerably shorter than the breadth of the 
disc, and furnished with little clusters of short, thick spines. 
The disc and upper surface of the rays are purple; the under 
surface and sides of the arms cream colour. The largest speci¬ 
men of this creature measured eight inches and a half across, and 
it will grow even larger than this. It is common in the Irish 
Sea, off the Isle of Man, and on the Northumbrian coast. 
Common Sun Stab {Solaster papposa). —This is one of the 
commonest and at the same time handsomest of the British Star 
Fishes. The rays are generally twelve or thirteen in number 
sometimes as many as fifteen, and are about half as long as the 
disc is broad; they are slightly rounded, but the disc itself is 
flat. The upper surface generally is covered with tubercles 
