NO. 19.] ECHINODERMS OF CONNECTICUT. I4.I 



Polian vesicle, the terminal cloaca, and the very slender filaments 

 of the gonads. Respiratory trees are absent, and, as the body 

 is without pedicels, the radial vessels of the water-vascular 

 system are wanting- in the adult. 



In Long Island Sound the animals are sexually mature in the 

 late spring and early summer. The eggs appear fully ripe during 

 the last week in May on the sand flats of Savin Rock. Attempts 

 at artificial fertilization have not been successful. 



When removed from its burrow, the animal is very restless, 

 and, if it is roughly handled, or if the water becomes stale, the 

 posterior portion of the body is likely to break into numerous 

 pieces. 



This species secures its food by extending its tentacles upon 

 the surface of the sand at the mouth of its burrow, and grasping 

 with the digits such particles of organic substances and sand as 

 may be selected. In this way vast quantities of sand are devoured, 

 the digestible substances contained among the particles or adher- 

 ing to them being absorbed. The intestine is always filled with 

 sand or mud, which may be of such a color as to affect the color- 

 ation of the posterior part of the body. 



The presence of the anchors in the integument enables the 

 animals to cling closely to objects with which they may come in 

 contact. It thus often happens that, when specimens of Synapta 

 are collected with specimens of other animals, and placed in a 

 jar of water, the whole collection may become entangled into an 

 inextricable mass. 



Specimens may be kept alive in an aquarium with a deep layer 

 of clean sand in the bottom, for some weeks, if there is a con- 

 stant supply of pure sea water. 



Synapta roseola (Verrill) 



Pink Synapta 



Plate XXIX, figs, i, 2. 



This beautiful little holothurian resembles the preceding spe- 

 cies closely, but is easily distinguished by the granules of red 

 pigment scattered so thickly over the body as to give it a delicate 

 rose-pink color. It has, moreover, certain anatomical peculiar- 

 ities by which it can be recognized, even after the color has dis- 



