138 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



The plates in the pedicels are narrow and curved, with four 

 central perforations besides one or more holes at each end ; while 

 those of the tentacles are rod-like, often with irregular outline, 

 and perforated (Fig. 27). 



For other anatomical details see Clark's Report in the Bulletin 

 of the U. S. Fish Commission for 1902, or Verrill's original 

 description.* 



Synapta inhaerens (O. F. MuUer) 



Common Synapta 



Plate XXIX, figs. 3, 4; Plate XXXII, figs. 8, 9. 



It was formerly thought that the common New England 

 Synapta represented a distinct species, to which the name Lepto- 

 synapta girairdii was applied, and this name is used in Verrill 

 and Smith's Report on the Invertebrate Animals of Vineyard 

 Sound. It has been shown, however, that our form is specifically 

 identical with the well-known European Synapta inhcerens. A 

 very complete description of the anatomy and habits of this spe- 

 cies has been published by Qark, in the Bulletin of the U. S. 

 Fish Commission for 1899. 



This is a very widely distributed species, being found not only 

 on the Atlantic coast of the United States and along the European 

 shore from the Arctic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, but also 

 on the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to Monterey 

 Bay and Point Loma, California. It also occurs at Bermuda. 



Along the Connecticut shore it is very commonly distributed, 

 and occurs in a great variety of situations. 



It is most frequently seen on sandy flats between tides, where 

 its burrows can be recognized, when the water is low, by the small 

 mound of sand commonly of different color from that at the 

 surface. In the center of this mound can be seen the small hole 

 in which the creature is living. This hole descends perpendic- 

 ularly, with a diameter of from one-fourth to three-eighths of an 

 inch. 



Although most commonly found in clean sand, it also occurs 

 in muddy situations, and can even live in soft, black mud. 



"Am. Journ. Science, ser. 3, vol. v, 1873. 



