Collecting for the sea worm group at Devil's Foot Island, Woods Hole. A water- 

 glass was used to locate the worm burrows and to make observations on the sea bottom. 

 Living specimens of the worms were brought into the laboratory and studied in sea-water 

 aquaria. From these were made the sketches and photographs for the models used in the 

 group 



A NEW EXHIBIT IN THE DARWIN HALL 



THE MARINE WORMS OF THE ATLANTIC COAST SHOWN IN A HABITAT GROUP 

 MADE FROM FIELD STUDIES AT WOODS HOLE, MASSACHUSETTS 



By Roy W. Miner 



THE series of window groups in preparation for the Darwin hall will 

 portray the invertebrates in their natural surroundings and empha- 

 size certain important biological principles. The first of these 

 principles is that of the struggle for existence — that battle for life which 

 must be waged by all living creatures. 



The second principle involves the immediate result of this struggle — 

 namely, the establishment of a balanced association composed of the sur- 

 viving animals and their environment, within which the struggle for exist- 

 ence continues, but on practically equal terms. 



The third principle, that of adaptation, implies that the surviving 

 creatures forming this association, in the course of generations change in 

 form and habits to become more and more fitted to their appropriate posi- 

 tions in the closely interlocking community. This change is the logical 

 result of the continued struggle for existence acting under the conditions 



1 The fleldwork, composition and effects for this group are the work of the author. The 

 wax-modeling was done by Mes.?rs. I. Mutausch and E. Mueller, the glass work by Mr. H. 

 Mueller, and the coloring by Messrs. S. Sliimotori and I. Matausch, under the supervision of 

 the author. Through the courtesy of the United States Fish Commission, the laboratories of 

 its Woods Hole station were put at the disposal of the museum for the field work of this group. 



245 



