82 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [376] 
In another variety the deep purple zodids have a circle of flake-white 
around the branchial orifice, a short white bar or spot beyond it on the 
outer end, a white spot on the middle between the orifices, and another 
white spot on the inner end near the anal orifice; the stolons colored as 
in the preceding. 
In another common variety (var. bicolor) the colors are similar except 
that the outer half of each zoéid is almost entirely covered with flake- 
white, sometimes tinged with orange, while the proximal half is deep pur- 
ple. Another has the purple zodids spotted and blotched with flake- 
white over the whole surface; sometimes the specks are so fine and 
numerous as to give a uniform silvery or frosted appearance, (var. fari- 
nacea.) 
One peculiar variety (annulata) has a small circle of white around the 
the branchial opening, surrounded by another large circle of flake-white, 
which incloses nearly the outer half of the zodid. The variety atrox has 
the zovids covered to a considerable extent with flake-white, so arranged 
on each as to present the appearance of a skull; the two eyes being 
formed by deep purple spots. 
The variety variegata is pale yellowish olive or orange-brown; the 
zooids have a white ring around the branchial orifice, inclosed by a brown 
ring, which is often interrupted ; and the latter is surrounded more or 
less completely by flake-white, there is usually also a median bar of 
flake-white ; the inner portion is deep purple, more or less mottled with 
white, and there is a white spot at the inner end. In the variety albida 
nearly the whole upper surface of the zodids is flake-white. 
In another very beautiful and distinct variety (var. stella) the common 
tissue is translucent, pale olive, with white-tipped stolons; the zodids 
are brown or purple, marked on the upper side with two parallel longi- 
tudinal bars of flake-white, which are separated by a narrow dark line, 
all of which radiate from the center of the cluster, thus producing the 
appearance of a many-rayed star, with the rays alternately white and 
dark; the white bars are sometimes interrupted near the inner ends, 
and small specks of flake-white are sometimes scattered over the outer 
end. In this form there are often ten to fifteen zodids in each cluster, 
and they appear longer and less swollen than in the other varieties, ow- 
ing, perhaps, to the optical effect of the radiating lines. This is the most 
distinctly marked variety that was observed, and was at first thought to 
be a distinct species. 
The Radiates are not abundant on muddy shores. The Thyone 
Briareus (p. 3562) is sometimes found on such shores, in sheltered situ- 
ations, among eel-grass. The common star-fish, Asterias arenicola, (p.526, 
Plate XXXV, fig. 269,) is often altogether too abundant on muddy shores, 
on the oyster-beds, where it commits great havoe. 
The Hydractinia polyclina (p. 328) is often found on the shells oceupied 
by “hermit-crabs.” Several species of Obelia grow upon the eekgrass, 
where the water is sufficiently clear. The Halecitum gracile V. (p. 328,) 
