BY DR. R. VON LENDENFELD. 133 



In the still continuing dispute between M. Schultze and 

 Ehrenberg, about the root of Hyalonema, Bowerbank (55) enters 

 with the statement, that the apertures (Cloaca) were to be found 

 at the base of the sponge. He declares, namely, the Coral (Polythoa) 

 which generally overgrows the Hyalonema, as part of the sponge, 

 and considers the holes in it — where the Polypes had been situated 

 — as the Oscula of the Hyalonema. 



Haeckel (56) published in 1870 his observations "liber die 

 sexuelle Fortpflanzung und das natiirliche System der Schwamme'' 

 whex'e he describes the Spermatozoa, the fructification of the 

 ovum and the early stages of development of the embryo. 



Classification and systematic position. 



Just as Grant opened up the Anatomy and Physiology, 

 Johnston (57) laid the foundation for the classification. During 

 twenty years his " History of British Sponges and Lithophytes," 

 was the main work of reference on our subject, and has only been 

 surpassed by the recent monogi'aphs of Bowerbank and O* 

 Schmidt. The excellent plates in this work were drawn by Mrs. 

 Johnston. In this period we meet also with the first essays on 

 sponges by Bowerbank (58) and Carter (59), the latter of whom 

 is the Nestor among the present spongiologists. Carter was at 

 that time surgeon in Bombay, and described some Indian fresh 

 water sponges. 



Leukart, (60) whose classical works in other branches of zoology 

 make his opinion valuable, already in 1854 pointed out, that the 



(55). T. Bowerbank. Hyalonema mirabile. Proc. Zool. Soc, 1867, p. IS' 

 350. 



(56). Ernst Hseckel. Ueber die sexuelle Fortpflanzung unci das natiirliche 

 System der Schwamme. Jenaische Zeitschr. VI. Seite. 641. 



(57)- G. Johnston. History of British Sponges and Lithophytes. Edin. 

 1842. 



(58). J. S. Bowerbank. Observations on a Keratous Sponge, from Australia. 

 Ann Mag., Vol. VII. (1841), p. 129. 



(59). H. T. Carter. Notes on the species of the freshwater Sponges of 

 Bombay. Ann. Mag., Vol. I. (1848), page 303. 



(60). R. Leukart. Archiv. fin. Naturgeschichte, Band II. 



