12 Q^ulletin of the jNatural History Society^ 
ARTICLE I. 
THE ECHINODERMATA OF NEW BEUNSWICK. 
BY W. F. GANONG, 
I. INTRODUCTOEY. 
The Echinodermata have always been to naturalists among^ 
the most interesting of Invertebrates. Among the first of 
the reasons for this is undoubtedly the abundance of hard 
parts in the group in general, and the constancy with which 
they indicate specific differences. Indeed, in most of the 
Echinoderms, the hard parts of the body bear a closer relation 
to the internal anatomy and are more immediately correlated 
and connected with it than in any other group of Inverte- 
brates, with the possible exception of the Insects. Again, 
the comparative ease with which they may in general be 
collected, preserved and prepared for study, the prominence 
given to many of them among shore animals by their sym- 
metrical forms, bright colors and conspicuous habitat, the com- 
parative si m})licity of their gross anatomy and ease with wdiich 
they may usually be dissected, the clearness with which they 
illustrated the old “radiate” type of animal-structure and 
its relation to other types, as well as important general 
structural features, — all these, together with the very inter- 
esting problems connected with their development and their 
relation to extinct forms, have caused them to receive a large 
share of attention from naturalists of all ages, both profes- 
sional and amateur. 
The mere idler by the sea-shore, if he notices animals at 
all, notices these among the first. Bright in color many of 
them, symmetrical in form all of them, often abundant and 
