Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea.
SEA-CUCUMBERS, SOME WITH EXTENDED TENTACLES.
A West Australian species whose colours are bright pink and yellow.
The majority of sea-urchins and star-fishes pass through a series of interesting metamorphoses before arriving at the adult state. The larval phases in these instances are free-swimming organisms, having arm-like processes, strengthened by calcareous rods that have been likened in contour to a clock-stand. A small spherical central area, like a clock in its case, representing the stomach of the larva, develops spicules around it, and becomes the body of the urchin, the other outlying portions becoming gradually absorbed. Some of the brittle-stars and sea-cucumbers bring forth their young in the adult form, nursing them from the egg in special breeding-chambers.
Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] [Milford-on-Sea.
SEA-CUCUMBER, OR BÊCHE-DE-MER.
These animals are collected in vast quantities on the Australian Great Barrier Reef, smoked, and sent to the Chinese market.
The capacity of a star-fish to renew its lost arms is commonly manifested. A single detached arm, moreover, in such a type as the common five-fingered species, can reproduce its body and the remaining four arms. Fishermen, who are in the habit of tearing up star-fishes and throwing them back into the water, under the impression that they are thus effectually incapacitating them from further injury to their oyster-beds, commit an error, such mutilation tending to the multiplication of their numbers.