86 LIVERPOOL MARINE BIOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT. 



very abundant all around our coast), it is said that one 

 may select gradations of every variety of form, from the 

 shell bored with small circular holes, through various stages 

 during which the shell becomes more and more perforated and 

 the sponge grows over it, surrounds it and encloses it, until it 

 reaches the massive free form christened by Dr. Bowerbank 

 Raphyrus griffithsia. On the other hand, however, Schmidt 

 makes Raphyrus griffithsia equal to his Papillina suherea. 



This species* belongs to the large family Suberitida, 

 which embraces another sponge {Suberites suherea, see below) 

 common on our coasts surrounding shells of various sizes, 

 and in fact, in some instances, converting the shell into 

 sponge substance, whilst to some extent the form of the 

 shell is retained. The characteristic form of spicule is " pin- 

 like." The well-known " Neptune's Cup " sponge Raphio- 

 phor a patera (Gray), also belongs to this group. 



L. M. B. C, No. 85. 9. Collected at Port Erin. 



L. F. M., No. 9. 2. 75. 6. Collected at Holyhead. 



Suberites suherea, S. 

 Hymeniaciclon suherea^ Bk. 

 Halicliondria suherea^ J. 



This is the species t alluded to in the notes on Cliona 

 celata as surrounding shells. It is the Suberites domuiicula 

 of Schmidt, and is representative of the compact forms 

 (group Compacta) of the family. 



L. F. M., No. 15. 6. 62. Collected at Holyhead, Liverpool 

 Bay, and Morecambe Bay. 



Suberites carnosa, S. 

 Hymeniacidon carnosa^ Bk. 

 Halicliondria carnosa, J. 

 This is another Suberite of compact form. The spicules 



* Johnston's Brit. Sponges, p. 125 ; Mo7i, Brit. Spong. vol. ii, p. 212 ; 

 vol. iii, pi. xxxviii, and pi. Ixiv ; Spongf. Atlan., p. 65. 



+ Johnston's Brit. Spang., pp. 139-141, pi. xii, figs. 5, 6; Man. Brit. 

 Spong, vol. ii, p. 200 ; vol. iii, pi. xxxvi, figs. 1-4; Spongf. Atlan., p. C7. 



