NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 381 



poi'tions of shells, corals, and stones. The last two or three 

 inches of each fibre, when examined closely, are found to be 

 armed with a large number of teeth, or thorny projections, while 

 the extremity is equipped with four or five small hooks, arranged 

 in the form of a grapnel. By this means the sponge anchors 

 itself to the place of its attachment. Mr Somerville adverted to 

 the fact of nearly every specimen' of Eiipledella containing one or 

 more small crabs, frequently of diff"erent species. These had been 

 foolishly supposed by some to have caused, by their running up 

 and down the tube, the curvature at the base which all the speci- 

 mens of Eiipledella possess more or less. The crabs probably 

 entered before the enclosing lid was added, for that seems the 

 latest part to be formed; or else, by entering as fry through the 

 openings in the walls of the cylinder, and living on the food brought 

 in by the circulating currents, they attained their mature state. 



Two of the specimens on tlie table exhibited remarkable mal- 

 formations. The one departed considerably from the ordinary 

 symmetrical form, being bulged out in several parts. The other 

 had been fractured while alive, and had been mended by the 

 animal itself. In it the ordinary gentle curve of the Eupledella 

 was broken, and the repair marked by an angle. Mr Somerville 

 stated that he was indebted to a lady in Glasgow for the oppor- 

 tunity of exhibiting the specimens. They had been collected in 

 deep water off the island of Zebu in the Philipj)ine group, and 

 sent to this country by James Fyfe, Esq. of Ilo Ilo. 



Dr James Stirton exhibited specimens of Dicramim ardicum 

 from Ben Lawers, and made a few remarks on the species. 



At the close of the proceedings, the Secretary (Mr Gray) handed 

 over to Professor Young, as keeper of the Hunterian Museum, 

 several rare birds and other objects not previously in the collec- 

 tion, remarking that it aff'orded him much gratification to observe 

 the very great care with which all donations to that institution 

 are preserved. Dr Young accepted the donation, and stated that 

 he had been dii^ected by the Senate of the University to convey 

 to Mr Gray their thanks for the interest he had taken in the 

 Museum, and for the important additions he had made in various 

 departments. 



After a few remarks from Professor Young on the satisfactory 



progress made by the Society during the past year, the Session 



was declared to be closed. 



2y 



