THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



stars, so called because of their tendency to drop one or 

 more arms when handled; sea cucumbers and sea lilies, 

 also sea urchins, which form an important article of food in 

 Europe and the West Indies. 



ALCOVE 9 Annulates, worms whose bodies are made up 

 of rings or segments. They inhabit both salt and fresh 

 water. A number of them are illustrated by a series of en- 

 larged models. The houses that these annulates build are 

 frequently beautiful and interesting. 



In the window is a group showing a section of a mud-flat 

 on the New England coast, which graphically depicts the 

 variety, habits and life of marine worms. 



ALCOVE 10 Arthropods, which include the familiar 

 crabs, lobsters, insects and their relatives. The case in the 

 center of the alcove contains a model showing the anatomy 

 of the common lobster, also enlarged models showing the 

 heads of various insects. On the wall are the two largest 

 specimens of lobster (weighing thirty-one and thirty-four 

 pounds respectively) that have ever been taken. The 

 largest of the arthropods is the giant spider-crab of Japan, 

 which has a spread of about ten feet. 



ALCOVE 11 Mollusks. The exhibit includes marine, 

 fresh-water and land animals. Special attention should be 

 given to the enlarged models of the common clam and 

 oyster, displayed in the center case. Other collections of 

 mollusks will be found on the third floor. 



ALCOVE 12 Chordates, including vertebrates. The ver- 

 15 



