PREFACE 



r|l[-IIS little work attemjDts to present in clear, iinteclinical lan- 

 guage, a- deseri|)tion, accompanied by pliotograplis, of the larger 

 and more conspicuous marine invertebrates of tlie coast of New York 

 State. In order to increase the general usefulness of tlie work, 

 however, accounts of the habits of a few creatures from i it her re- 

 gions are introduced. Such are: Cummercial s]ionges, cravfishes, 

 the spiny lobster, the edible shrimp, the orchid land-cral), fresh- 

 water mussels, the giant clain, the ]iearl oyster, the giant squid, 

 and the chamliered nautilus A brief descrijition of some of our 

 common "sea squirts," or tunicates, is also given on account of 

 their interesting position among primitive vertebrates. 



This work is intended for readers who may lie unfamiliar with 

 the technical terms in use among specialists, and consequent!}- 

 such terms have been avoided whenever a simple English equival- 

 ent conld be substituted. 



Its aim is to increase intelligent interest in the haluts and life- 

 liistories of our marine animals, and to disseminate a knowledge of 

 their appearance and relationships. It is not a textljook of syste- 

 matic zoology. 



It is designed to l)e of use to the beginner, and with the hope 

 that a perusal of its |iages may stimulate to further study, many 

 references to works in the English language of a more thorough 



