themselves in tiny holes in the rays.

Some star-fishes have the power of breaking off their rays, and, like
the crab and lobster, can grow new ones to take their place. They have
many beautiful relations in the star-fish family, one of the loveliest
being the Brittle-star, so called because it will break in pieces when
touched. Another relative is the Sun-star, which has twelve or fifteen
rays, and often grows to a very large size. Its color is sometimes
purple, sometimes red, with white rays tipped with red; truly a
gorgeous creature, and no doubt very vain of his wonderful beauty!

All star-fishes have mouths and stomachs, which they put to good use,
being exceedingly fond of oysters, and such like, which they suck out
of their shells when opportunity offers.

One of this particular Star-Fish family, Meteor by name, proved very
friendly indeed to Sammy, and through him our hero learned of a fine
Oyster Colony which had established itself on a mud bank not very far
distant.

[Illustration: STAR-FISH. Meteor proved very friendly indeed.]

Now Sammy was naturally of an inquisitive disposition, and an Oyster
Colony being something new he was anxious to visit it. Meteor was also
eager to pay a call, not so much from curiosity, as in the hope of
extracting a fat bivalve from his shell for dinner.

So one fine day off the two started, Sammy swimming slowly to keep up
with his companion, and presently they came in sight of the Colony. It
was a large mud bank literally covered with oysters. Some were half