No. 21 ] FIFTH BIENNIAL REPORT 1 7 



Echinoderms include the creatures commonly called sea-urchins 

 and starfishes. Though not a large class as regards the number 

 of species, the Echinoderms are an interesting group. They are 

 among the marine animals which are large and conspicuous, and 

 most of them have skeletons which are readily preserved. They 

 are accordingly among the forms which attract the attention of 

 visitors to the shore. Professor Coe's full descriptions of our 

 species will be useful to teachers, particularly in the towns along 

 the coast, where the pupils may easily become acquainted with 

 these animals. One genus of the Echinoderms, the common 

 starfish, is of great economic interest, since it is one of the most 

 destructive enemies of the oyster. Professor Coe has given much 

 attention to the relation of the starfish to the oyster industry. 

 The work is beautifully illustrated with plates showing the aspect 

 of the living animals, and others showing their anatomical 

 structure. 



Bulletins in Press or Approved for Publication by the 



Board of Control 



One bulletin is now in press; and two others have been 

 approved for publication by the Board of Control, but have not 

 yet gone to press on account of an unexpected delay in the 

 revision of the manuscript. These are the following: — 



20. The Birds of Connecticut: by John Hall Sage and Louis 

 Bennett Bishop, assisted by Walter Parks Bliss. 



22. Guide to the Insects of Connecticut : prepared under the 

 direction of Wilton Everett Britton. Part III. Hymenoptera of 

 Connecticut: by Henry Lorenz Viereck. 



23. The Peat Deposits of Connecticut: by Charles Albert 



Davis. 



Probably no work which the Survey has announced as in 

 preparation has been awaited by so many people, in the state, 

 and out of it, with eager expectation, as the work of Mr. Sage 

 and Dr. Bishop on the Birds of Connecticut. In their careful 

 studies, continued for many years, a vast amount of information 

 has been recorded in regard to the dates of arrival and departure 

 of our migratory birds, the localities of rare birds, and the food 

 and habits of the birds. This bulletin will be of interest not only 

 to ornithologists, but also to teachers and farmers, and to the 

 multitude of people who have learned to love the birds. The 

 publication of this bulletin will help to correct some erroneous 

 impressions, widely prevalent among farmers, in regard to some 

 of our birds. Many of the birds of prey, for instance, which 

 are commonlv regarded as the farmer's foes, are really his 

 friends. In fact, the sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's haw!:, and 

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