very curious animal is firft divided into five equidiftant, 
thickly-jointed proceffes, each of which is foon fub- 
divided into two other fmaller ones, and each of thefe, 
at a fomewhat farther diftance, into two others {till 
fmaller : this mode of regular fubdivifion is continued 
to a vaft extent, and in the moft beautiful gradation of 
minutenefs, till at length the number of the extreme 
ramifications amounts to feveral thoufands. By this 
moft curious ftructure the animal becomes as it were a 
living net, and may well deferve the title of rete mir&bilc, 
and is capable of catching fitch creatures as are by na¬ 
ture deftined for its prey, by the fudden contraftion 
of all its innumerable ramifications, by which the un¬ 
fortunate objedt is fecured beyond all poffibility of 
efcape. The fea-ftars have a very confiderable degree 
of reproductive power, and if injured by accidental 
violence, or if one or more of their limbs or branches 
be torn or cut off, the creature will in time be furnilhed 
with new ones. They wander about the ocean, parti¬ 
cularly near the (bores, in queft of food, and prey not 
only on the fofrer animals, but even on the fmaller 
iheli-fifh ; and are armed for this purpofe with hard 
and (harp teeth, refembling prickles, and fituated in a 
circular form, with the points converging towards the 
opening of the mouth, and differing in number in the 
different fpecies. The fpecies here reprefented is not 
uncommon in moft feas, and is frequently found in the 
Mediterranean. In colour it varies, being fometimes 
pale, or reddifh white, and fometimes of a brown, 
more or lefs intenfe. The Afierite in general are vivi¬ 
parous ? animals. 
