1:^1 



these collections or the many fine insects observed, but reference was 

 made to the abundance of large wasps, and to the Semi or Cicada, 

 whose noise is so obtrusive during the hot weather, and which is cap- 

 tured by the children with slender bamboos tipped with rice glue. 



The address having occupied an hour and a half it was moved by 

 Mr. Kingston, seconded by Mr. Lees, " that the reading of the 

 Ornithologcal Report be deferred until the next soiree." Carried. 



At the request of the members Mr. Harrington attired himself in a 

 Japanese costume, explaining, however, that fine feathers do not make 

 fine birds, and that he was afraid the clothes would not make him look 

 like a Japanese, or show to advantage their graceful qualities. 



:o:- 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



THE JAPANESE GLASS-ROPK SPONGE. 



To the Editor of the Ottawa Naturalist. 



Dear Sir, — In anticipation of any report you may make of my 

 *' talk " upon Japan will you permit me lo briefly supplement the 

 reference then made to the exhibited specimens of Hyalonema Sieboldn 

 I find that some of those present received the impression that this 

 iiteresting form is an artificial "plant" instead of a natural c\\x\oi\\-^ . 

 The specimens shown, of which one was complete and the other stripped 

 of the sponge proper, were obtained at Enoshima, where they may be 

 had in abundance, of varying sizes and degrees of perfection. The 

 trifling price at which they are sold would at once negative the idea 

 that they are manufactured, even were the object of such manufacture 

 apparent. They are obtained by dredging, in about 200 fathoms, on 

 re^fs situated near the mouth of the Gulf ofTokio. During my stay in 

 Yokohama I read in a volume of the transactions of the Asiatic Society 

 of Japan a very interesting paper on these sponges, and the only point 

 on which the author asked for further investigation was the relationship 

 borne to the sponge by the polyps surrounding the stalk. Various 

 theories have been held by naturalists as to the growth of these 





