COELENTERATA 71 



The column contracts and the tentacles are with- 

 drawn when irritated. Slender white threads (acon- 

 tia) covered with nematoeysts are thrown out by 

 the column when the anemone is irritated. 



In Xew England this anemone may attain a 

 width across the disc of ten inches, although in New 

 Jersey it is usually much smaller. 



It has been found, particularly in the late 

 summer and fall, attached to woodwork and shells 

 at Schellenger's Landing', Cape May, and at Corson's 

 Inlet and may be looked for in similar situations 

 elsewhere in the state. 



Astrangia danae Agassiz (Star Coral) 



PLATE IV. Fig. 2 



Coral is usually associated with warmer water 

 to the south of New Jersey. Nevertheless, there is 

 one species of coral that is found as far north as 

 Xew Jersey — in fact, as far as New England. Fairly 

 large masses of this coral have been dredged in the 

 channel of Delaware Bay and in shallow water off 

 the New Jersey coast. 



The living animals or polyps, often popularly 

 called "insects," are creamy white in color and rise 

 above the star-shaped opening. 



Small fragments are frequently found cast up on 

 the beach. Some of these may be from some living 

 offshore coral association; others, being very worn, 

 are probably fossil and were washed from a sub- 

 marine fossil deposit of Pleistocene age. During 

 part of Pleistocene time (Interglacial) this coral was 

 more abundant than it is today. 



