THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



Alcove 2— Sponges. Many of the "glass" sponges are 

 exceedingly beautiful; certain other specimens are coated 

 with wax, tinted to show the natural color of the flesh of the 

 animal. 



Alcove 3— Polyps. Here are shown the coral animals 

 and their relatives; plant-like hydroids, frequently mistaken 

 for seaweeds; jelly-fishes, brilliantly colored sea anemones, 

 sea fans and sea plumes, reef corals and the precious coral 

 of commerce. In front of the window is a life-size model 

 in glass of the beautiful Portuguese man-of-war. 



Alcove 4— Flatworms, the best known species of which 

 include the tapeworms. There are also exhibited parasitic 

 and free-living flatworms, the latter, which inhabit both salt 

 and fresh water, being shown by enlarged models in the 

 right-hand alcove case. These in particular well illustrate 

 the great diversity of color and detail found in this group. 



Alcove 5 — Roundworms. Here may be found an en- 

 larged model of the common roundworm, or stomach worm 

 of the horse (Ascaris), showing the internal structure. 



Alcove 6 — Rotifers. These are minute wheel animal- 

 cules, comprising many exquisite and grotesque forms. 

 They are aquatic and found mainly in fresh water. 



Alcove 7 — Sea mats, minute plant-like or encrusting 

 animals which lead the colonial form of life, and the lamp 

 shells, which superficially resemble clams but by structure 

 are more closely related to the worms and starfishes. 



Alcove 8— Sea stars, the pest of the oyster beds; brittle 



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