492 BUItMA, ITS PEOPLE A^B PRODUCTIONS. 



head exactly fitting tlic cxtcm;il or I may say terminal hole, from which it is pro- 

 truded, for the pui-pose of hooking itself along, coral and all, much after the manner 

 of ]irogression of a caddis larva. "We are thus forced to suppose that the young 

 tiiphiDiculus (in what precise stage, it is much to be regretted, we do not seem to 

 know) makes its onslaught on to the ecjually young Ueleropmmmia, and having 

 effected a burglarious entrance into his host's premises, to wit his host's body, lives 

 on amicable terms with him ever after. That the union of host and lodger is a life- 

 long one, and cemented in early infancy, cannot, 1 think, be questioned ; but is not the 

 generally received notion of the respective part played, rather arrived at by begging 

 the entire question ? 



In view of some of the difficulties suggested above, is it not equally probable that 

 the Ihteropsammia is epizootic on the SIpltuncidus, as that the Siphunculus is a fortuitous 

 occupant of the substance of the coral ? I see no insuperable absurdity in the notion 

 that just as Ildcrocyathiis parasiticus selects dead shells for its perch, either tenanted 

 or not by a Siphunculus or other creature, so the cmbryotio Ueteropsammia may select 

 the body of a Siphunculus whereon to perfect its development, and if, as is not unlikely, 

 tliei'e may be a mutual advantage in this queer association, it may or may not happen 

 that the act is acquiesced in by the Siphunculus, or that it may not have the power of 

 defending itself from this unsought copartnership. The true solution of this question 

 depends, I think, on the close observation of the living Ueteropsammia in its earliest stage, 

 and also on determining whether the Siphunculus found tenanting it, is found to occupy 

 any other shelter ; in a word, the satisfactoiy solution of this curious problem awaits 

 minute observations of the animals, which have yet to be made by some one gifted 

 with the patience as well as the opportunity of carrying them out successfully. 



NEPHTHYA BURMAENSIS, Ridley (Page 18). 



Since the preceding pages have been printed a species of Alcyonarian sponge, 

 collected by myself, has been described by S. 0. Ridley, Esq., in the Annals ancl 

 Magazine of Natural History for March, 1882, from which paper I extract the 

 following remarks : — 



ALCYOXINJE. 

 NErnxHTA, Audouin. 



The only described species which can be admitted in this genus, as distinguished 

 from Ammothca by the large size of its cortical spicules, fi-om Eunephthya by their 

 not projecting from the surface of the ccencnchyma, and from Spongodes by the 

 polype-spicules not projecting beyond the retracted polype, are — 



N. Chabeolii, Audouin. 



N. (Alctoniitm) AUR.1NTIACA, Quoy et Gaim. 



N. cocciNEA, Stinipson. 



N. ATJRANTiACA, Vcrrill. 



N. NiGEA, Pourtales. 



To the above a new species is now added, N. Biirmaensis, from the Arakan 

 Coast, near Negrais. After describing it in detail, the author adds : 



" The species is represented by a small colony of three primary lobes rising from 

 the common base, which clasps a small calcareous mass ; . . . From all the species 

 assigned above to the genus, either the pale colour of the soft parts or the whiteness 

 of the spicules distinguishes it ; N. ClialruUi, which seems to have the dull general 

 colouration, differs in its very large polypes and their green spicules. JSf. niger is, 

 of course, black ; and if the costa; assigned to it are ridges resembling the costa; 

 of Madrcjjoraria, they constitute another j^oint of difference." 



MUSICAL FISH (Page 188). 



The only account that I am aware of that has been printed, of musical sounds 

 being produced by fish in Biumcsc waters, is by the llev. C. Parish, who has kindly 



