. Popular science monthly. f a Stak-fish {Astropecten). (From Cassells Natural History.) gence,forms has spent his summers at the sea-side, studying several commonof marine life. He compares a seasons work of this kindto a prolonged picnic, the pleasure ofwhich is accompanied by a sense thatno time is being profitlessly spent. Sail-ing about upon the sunny sea to dipup in muslin nets the creatures at thesurface, steaming away far from shoreto dredge for other material, and carry-ing on observations among the tanks andbell-jars of a neat little airy workshop,all have their charms. Even the nece
. Popular science monthly. f a Stak-fish {Astropecten). (From Cassells Natural History.) gence,forms has spent his summers at the sea-side, studying several commonof marine life. He compares a seasons work of this kindto a prolonged picnic, the pleasure ofwhich is accompanied by a sense thatno time is being profitlessly spent. Sail-ing about upon the sunny sea to dipup in muslin nets the creatures at thesurface, steaming away far from shoreto dredge for other material, and carry-ing on observations among the tanks andbell-jars of a neat little airy workshop,all have their charms. Even the neces-sity of devising makeshift apparatus, andof teaching unskilled hands how to help,adds to the enjoyment, as does the over-coming of similar obstacles in a pleasure-excursion. Dr. Romanes has devoted hisattention mainly to jelly-fish, star-fish, * The material and illustrations of this article are drawn from Jelly-fish, Star-fish andSea-urchins, by Dr. G. J. Romanes, the latest issue in the International Scientific Fio. (Prom -PEDicELLARiiB (masrnified)CasseirB Natural History.) CURIOSITIES OF STAR-FISH LIFE. 361 and sea-urchins, or more particularly to the nervous systems, and themovements controlled by them, in these creatures. A star-fish, as we all know, consists of a central disk and five radi-ating arms (Fig. 1). Upon the whole of the upper surface occurnumerous calcareous nodules imbedded in the soft flesh, and support-ing short spines. One of these nodules, much larger than the others,is always found a little to one side of the center, and is called themadreporic tubercle (Fig. 1, wi). With the aid of a lens we may seealso on the upper surface a number of small organs, each consist-ing of a pair of pincers supported on a flexible stalk, scattered aboutamong the calcareous nodules, or attached to the spines ; these areknown as pedicellarise (Fig. 2), These organs are provided with mus-cles by which the stalk is swayed about, and the pincers are openedand shut
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