IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 251 
like ribl ens ; and at the head, the most beautiful wreath of white 
tentacles. This beautiful creature is so transparent that you can 
see its intestines through the skin, and in one, that I read of, they 
were filled with coarse grains of granite. You can see it in the 
picture on page 249. 
This Sea Cucumber has another odd habit. If he is kept in 
an aquarium, and not fed, he will throw off part of his body. First 
a deep ring comes in the body, and before long, the part below the 
ring drops off. So he will go on, dropping off piece after piece, 
till nothing is left but his head — like a little round ball — and his 
beautiful crown. 
