36 



REPORT ON RADIATA AND PROTOZOA. 



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By L. F. PouRTALiis, Keeper of the Museum. 



The most important additions to the collections in this de- 

 partment made for many years are those resulting from the 

 dredgings made by Mr. Agassiz in the Gulf of Mexico. These, 

 added to what the Museum had before, make it the depositary 

 of probably one of the richest deep-sea collections in existence. 

 The Gulf of Mexico and the West Indian seas prove to be one 

 of the richest regions thus far explored for deep-water forms. 



The arrangement of these and the description of the new 

 forms is progressing favorably, the Echini, Ophiuridse, and 

 Corals having been nearly completed by Messrs. Agassiz, Ly- 

 man, and myself. The Star Fishes are in the hands of Professor 

 Perrier of Paris, the Sponges are with Professor Oscar Schmidt, 

 and the Foraminifera with Mr. H. B. Brady. The Alcyonarians 

 of former dredging expeditions, which had been for a number of 

 years in the hands of Professor Kolliker of Wiirzburg, will be 

 returned, as he has found it impossible to work them up, on 

 account of the pressure of other occupations. 



In the exhibition room devoted to Radiates, the collections 

 had to be removed temporarily, for the purpose of having the 

 exhibition cases painted. They have been replaced lately, and 

 the collection of Sponges added. The room will be completed 

 when the systematic collections of Crinoids, Alcyonarians, and 

 Protozoa are arranged. 



The collection of Ophiuridse has been, as heretofore, under the 

 charge of Mr. T. Lyman, who has been assisted by Miss E. H. 

 Clark. 



