106 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



model each alveole is represented by a separately blown glass sphere.) 

 Radiating outward from the central capsule may be seen the supporting 

 glassy skeleton of the creature, each ray in this species separate, and 

 branching antler-like at the tip. Particular notice should be taken of 

 the delicate radiating filamentary projections of the animal body be- 

 tween the rays of the skeletal structure. These are the "pseudopods," 

 prolongations of the living protoplasmic network which reach out in all 

 directions and act somewhat as tentacles, seizing upon the minute ani- 

 mals which form the prey of the creature, and drawing them down 

 within the body to be digested and absorbed. This ingestion may take 

 place at any point of the surface, since there is no mouth and no definite 

 stomach. The pseudopods are used also for locomotion. 



In other related species all parts of the skeleton are welded rigidly 

 together, often forming complicated and beautiful patterns, as in the 

 genus Gorgonetta, the skeleton of which is represented by a model now 

 on exhibition in the Museum (page 107). 



Roy W. Miner. 



A NEW MARINE HABITAT GROUP. 



THE illustration on page 102 represents a group recently installed 

 by the Department of Invertebrate Zoology. This group 

 shows an animal community such as may often be found in the 

 Bahamas not far below the exposed edge of a coral reef. It includes 

 Brittle-stars, Sea Cucumbers, Cake-urchins and Sea-urchins, especially 

 Diadema seiosum, two fine specimens of which are represented bristling 

 with long spines, like hedge-hogs. Coiled in and out through the crevices 

 of the coral -rock is the brownish body of a Synapta, studded with knobs 

 and displaying around its circular mouth-opening an expanded ring of 

 plume-like tentacles. Conspicuous at one side of the group is the flower- 

 like Pink-tipped Sea Anemone (Condylactis gigantca Weinland), which 

 nestles at the base of a coral growth and is partly concealed by the brown 

 slimy surface of an incrusting sponge. Above this rises the delicate 

 fern-like colony of a Stinging Coral {Millcpora alcicornis) together with 

 a fragile, paper-like species (Millepora plicaia), while other sponges 

 and corals project here and there from the sand. The material for the 

 group was collected in 1908 by Dr. B. E. Dahlgren and Mr. H. Miiller 

 ofi:' Andros Island in the Bahamas, and was for the most part prepared 

 by the former in the Museum. 



