478 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Ascidians. 



Page. 



Cynthia partita 311 



Molgiila Manhatteusis 311 



Bryozoa. 



Page. 



Bugula turrita 476 



Escliarella variabilis 476 



Membranipora lineata 406 



Page. 



Yesicularia dichotoma 476 



Alcyonidium hirsutum 476 



Pedicellina Americana 405 



RADIATA. 



JEcliinoderms. 



Page. 



Asterias arenicola 476 



AcalepJis. 



Page. 



Obelia gelatinosa 391 



O. diapliana 327 



O. pyriformis 390 



Page. 



Halecium gracile 476 



Sertularia argentea 408 



Folyps. 



Page. ( Page. 



Metridium marginatum 329 Sagartia leucolena. 329 



PROTOZOA. 



Page. 



Tedania, species 330 



Halicbondria, sp 330 



Sponges. 



Page. 

 Eed branching sponge 476 



III. 4. — Animals iNHABiTiNa eel-orass in brackish waters. 



A large portion of the shallow parts of nearly all the harbors, estu- 

 aries, and ponds is occupied by a dense growth of eel- grass, Zoster a 

 marina^ in summer. This plant flourishes both on sandy and muddy 

 bottoms. During the fall and winter it is mostly torn up and drifted 

 away by storms, but in the spring a new crop starts up and grows very 

 rapidly, the narrow, ribbon-like leaves often becoming six feet or more 

 in length during the summer. 



These tracts of eel-grass are the fiivorite resorts of a considerable 

 number of animals, which seek these places either for food or conceal- 

 ment and shelter, or for both combined. Other species, including certain 

 hydroids, bryozoa, and ascidians, grow attached to the leaves of the 

 eel-grass. 



