1885.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



29 



This beautiful and interesting sponge was first discovered by Mr. 



McKay, during the summer 

 of 1884. At that time its 

 novelty, as indicated by its 

 unusually robust, entirely 

 spined skeleton spicules was 

 easily recognized, but the 

 absence of gemmules at that 

 season precluded the deter- 

 mination of its generic rela- 

 tions, and it has continued 

 unnamed. During the last 

 week of December, however, 

 a further search was re- 

 warded by the finding of 

 other "specimens upon 

 sticks pulled up through a 

 break made in the ice," and 

 amongst these a few, and 

 but a few gemmulae have 

 now been discovered. 

 These suffice to place it clearly within the genus Heteromerjenia, 

 near H. Ryderii, while the peculiarities of its birotulates distin- 

 guish it from that or any other species, 



Mr. Potts called attention to its green and apparently living 

 and growing condition, during midwinter, in that northern lati- 

 tude, as indicating that like Spongilla aspinosa, of the New 

 Jersey swamps, this species also is an "evergreen," continuing its 

 life in the normal state throughout the year, and for this reason 

 not needing to form " protected gemmules " in such abundance 

 as do other species. 



At the suggestion of Mr. McKay, to whose enthusiastic search 

 we owe its discovery, the local specific Pictouensis has gladly 

 been given to this species. 



The following were elected members : — 



Charles Harrod Vinton, M. D., Henry Leffmann, M.D., S. Frank 

 Aaron and Edw. Lona;streth. 



A. A. A. Skeleton spicules ; B. Long birotulate 

 C. C. Short do. Magnified 250 diameters. 



March 3. 



The President, Dr. Leidy, in the chair. 



Twenty-seven members present. 



The following papers were presented for publication : — 

 "A Review of the American Genera and Species of Batrachidoe," 

 by Seth E. Meek and Edw. A. Hall. 



