a long stalk of stony plate, surmounted by a number of
square plates pierced with holes, and these last only are destined to
survive in the body of the adult. Soon after this stage is reached, the
swimming body comes to rest, because the stalked body which it contains
has reached its full development, and takes over the threads of life.
As a consequence, the barrel-shaped swimming body, now useless, is
thrown off, much as a caterpillar throws off its skin, leaving the newly
fashioned body, shaped like a filbert-nut, but rounder, fixed by its
stalk to the ground. In a very little while, however, it puts forth a
number of beautiful moving arms. It is now a sea-lily! And now follows
another change. Breaking away from the traditions of its tribe--the
sea-lilies--it cuts itself off from the stalk, and grows in its place a
number of short finger-like processes, and lo! from a sea-lily it
becomes the rosy feather-star! (What this looks like you can see in fig.
7.) Once more it is able to swim, and this is done by waving movements
of the long arms. When desirous of rest, it drops to the bottom of the
sea, and clutches hold of some bit of rock or branch of seaweed by means
of the bunch of 'fingers' below the body, which we have just described.

W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S.

[Illustration: Fig. 7.--Rosy Feather-star.]

ROSIE.

The Lees were a clever family; all their friends said so. Tom was good
at games, and had carried off several prizes at the school sports; Percy
was a first-class reciter; Emma sang, and played the piano; whilst Alice
drew very well, and had a larger collection of picture post-cards than
any other girl she knew.

Rosie, however, the youngest, was not in any way remarkable: 'Indeed,
you would hardly think her one of us--she is so unlike the rest,' Alice
would say, with a slighting glance at the little sister who never did
anything particular; only worked and helped, and was at everybody's beck
and call.

Rosie was used to being made of small account, and did not mind it much.
When a rich aunt of the Lees announced her intention of coming to pay
them a visit, and then perhaps choosing one of the young people to be
her companion during a long stay in London, it did not for a moment
occur to the little girl that she could be the favoured one. She
listened without jealousy to the chorus of brothers and sisters,
planning what they should do in the event of being chosen.

'I would go to a cricket