186 



Just below low water live a great variety of animals, 

 among them the common crabs and lobsters, the sea- 

 anemones and many species of hydroids which cover the 

 stones like sea-weeds. On muddy bottoms the eel-grass 

 shelters a large number of animals. The bottom of the 

 harbor down to a depth of four or five fathoms is soft 

 mud, like that found in coves and docks, becoming grad- 

 ually cleaner as the depth increases. In this mud live 

 several species of worms and mollusks. To get at them 

 the mud is put in a sieve and water poured on, until the 

 finer part is washed through and the animals left on the 

 sieve. On this shallow bottom, where there are shells or 

 stones enough to hold it, grows the laminaria or devil's 

 apron, and among its roots live the long-armed star fishes 

 and several other shallow water animals. Beyond the 

 mud a large part of the harbor is rocky, with here and 

 there small stones and gravel. The common animals here 

 are the sea-eggs (Echini}, chitons, several species of 

 shrimp, the thick-armed sea-anemone and the red Lopho- 

 thuria. Beyond the islands a softer bottom is found in 

 the channels, and here live Terebratulina, several species 

 of sponges and star fishes not found in shallower water. 

 This bottom becomes hardened in some places into irregu- 

 lar lumps, filled with the tubes of worms and other 

 animals. 



The apparatus used for dredging the past summer was 

 exhibited and explained. The specimens were most of 

 them too small to be shown at the meeting, but all are 

 arranged at the museum, where they can be seen by 

 visitors. 



