THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



131 



Physalia pelagica. 



PHVSALIA PELAGICA. 



Although this species is so rare on the New 

 England coast that a specimen is seldom taken 

 I have decide d to include it in my list as 

 it is very common at times, I believe, on the 

 southern coasts. The most conspicuous part of 

 this animal when seen in the water, is an air 

 bladder six or eight inches in length with a 

 beautifully coloured crest above, and on the 

 under side a large number of appendages. They 

 are sometimes driven on the New England coast 

 by severe storms, twelve being taken one 

 summer at Woods Holl. 



Natural History" which I will quote in part: 



''Many of the small spiral shells found in the 

 shallow salt-water just below the waters edge 

 are found to be inhabited by hermit crabs, 

 which travel about very actively by protruding 

 their legs from the aperture of the shell. On 

 the backs of many of these shells is what 

 appears to the eye, a white, delicate mosSy 

 growth, covering most all of the shell, except- 

 ing that part which drags on the bottom as the 

 crab travels. Under the microscope, this mossy 

 growth proves to be a colony of very beautiful 

 hydroids named Hydractinia. 



ASTERIAS VULGARIS. 



This is a very common object on most 

 beaches. The starfish in the water looks very 

 much different from those specimens which are 

 sent out by curiosity dealers and which are, for 

 the most part, poorly prepared. 



In the water they generally cling to the sides 

 of rocks and some of the positions into which 

 they can bend themselves in order to enter a 

 small crevice are really like unto the well 

 known feats of the contortionists. 



There are many varieties of color, some of 

 which are very beautiful. I remember one 

 shade of purple which was always very 

 pleasing to me. 



On the under side of each ray are the 

 ambulacral feet furnished at their ends with 

 suckers by means of which the animal moves. 



There is an old saying which applies to the 

 starfish very well, namely, that "he does not 

 move very fast but he gets there just the same." 



P.P. Drowne. 



(To be continued.) 



THE FLOUR BEETLES. 



BY A. A. ANDREWS. 



HYDRACTINIA POLYCLINA. ^^^^^^ j,^g p^,j f^w years two Httle 



There is an excellent description of Hydrac- tenebrinoid beetles, commonly known as 



tinia, one of the hydroids, in llie "Standard "flour weevils" viz: TriboHum confusum and 



