THE LIVING WORLD. 
36 
the bivalves. Its voracity is such that if it swallows a bivalve it will pay no 
attention to the shell, which it retains amidst the other indigestible matter. It 
can sustain the loss of members, which it quickly repairs. It moves 
with a glide, compared to which the steps taught by a dancing-master are 
clumsy; moreover, it can adjust itself to emergencies, and by retiring trouble¬ 
some members seems 
able to crawl through a 
“ knot-hole.” Its struc¬ 
ture puts to shame the 
oft-vaunted cloistered 
cathedrals of Europe; 
columns arise in won¬ 
drous beauty and purity, 
and the vaulted aisles 
dwarf the skill of our 
most celebrated ecclesias¬ 
tical architects. The 
Star-fish protect their 
young until these are 
able to provide for them¬ 
selves. The species are 
many, and so varied as 
to suggest no consan¬ 
guinity. Though appa¬ 
rently without organs of 
sight, scent, or sound, 
they are quick to per¬ 
ceive the vicinity of bait.. 
They seem able to com¬ 
press themselves at 
pleasure, so as to pass 
through apertures ap¬ 
parently smaller than 
themselves. The Bird's - 
foot resembles in form 
the foot of a duck, while 
its coloring of scarlet 
and yellow is a feast to 
the sight. 
The Leather Sea- 
Urchin (.Asthenosoma 
hystrix ) can live more 
SEA stars (Asteracanthion rubens); SEA cucumber { n ucumaria doliolum ); 
and climbing urchins (Echinus microtuberculatus). 
than a thousand fathoms, 
or more than a mile be¬ 
low the surface of the 
water, and a moment’s reflection upon the fearful pressure of the sea at that 
depth will suggest the great strength possessed by this seemingly frail inhabi- 
. tant of the deep. It is generally globular in form, and resembles the little knit 
caps worn by girls. Its bright coloring, relieved by the white linear markings. 
