14 Bulletin, Vanderbilt Marine Museum, Vol. IV 



The principal value of these collections lies in the surprising per- 

 centage of rare species they possess and in the related extension of 

 our knowledge of the geographic and bathymetric distribution of these 

 forms, and of their anatomy, as presented in the systematic discussion. 

 Much hitherto unpublished data on the colors of the various species 

 were made in field sketches by Mr. Vanderbilt, during all of the 

 cruises, except those to the Galapagos Islands, on which, his staff 

 artist, Mr. W. E. Belanske, continued this work under Mr. Vander- 

 bilt 's direction. A few of these color plates have been published in 

 Mr. Yanderbilt 's "To the Galapagos -on the 'Am' "; a great many 

 more are in the study collections of the Vanderbilt Marine Museum. 

 This volume also contains complete maps of the cruises of 1926 and 

 1928. 



Acknowledgements. 



As during the preparation of the preceding Volumes II and III, 

 Mr. Vanderbilt has generously placed unexcelled facilities at my dis- 

 posal during the preparation of the present reports. His splendid 

 generosity and unfailing patience and helpful criticisms have been 

 most valuable. 



I am also indebted to Miss Ida Richardson Hood, curator of the 

 Library of the American Museum of Natural History, and her assis- 

 tants, the Misses Hazel Gay, and Ida Sledge, for many courtesies. The 

 line drawings of the Echinoderms and many of the Cephalopoda were 

 made by Mrs. Helen Ziska ; those of the remainder of the Cephalopoda 

 and Tectibranchiata, also all of the Coelenterata, were done by Mrs. 

 Else Bostelmann, all under my supervision. The photographic illus- 

 trations were made by Mr. Julius Kirschner of the photographic lab- 

 oratory of the American Museum, except that of Stylaster roseus 

 (Pallas), which was kindly supplied by Mr. W. E. Belanske. 



Geographical Distribution of Species of Coelenterata. 



west indian fauna. 



Millepora alcicornis Linne. 



Several specimens in various stages of development, from the south 

 coast of Cuba, February 19, 1923. 



Stylaster roseus (Pallas). 



Several fine colonies dredged in 150 fms., seven miles off Alligator 

 Reef, Florida, March 30, 1926. 



