18G4.] DR. BOWERBANK ON AMERICAN SPONGES. 305 



ovo-spinuliite, large and long. Tension spicula super-fusiformi 

 sub-ovo-spinulate, small, irregularly dispersed, numerous. 

 Color. Dried, light gray. 

 Habitat. Portland, Maine, N. America. 



Dr. Dawson, McGill College, Montreal : 

 Examined in the dried state. 



I received a small slice of this sponge from Prof. Dawson. From 

 the curve of the surface the specimen appears to have been about 

 an inch and a half in diameter. In its present state the hispida- 

 tioft of the surface is very strongly produced, and probably 

 much exaggerated by drying ; the spicula are comparatively very 

 large and long, more so than those of the skeleton fasciculi. The 

 secondary series of defensive spicula are of the same form as those 

 of the interstitial membranes, but not more than half their 

 average size. The whole of the spicula are exceedingly fusiform, 

 the middle of the shaft being frequently twice the diameter of the 

 base of the spiculum. The ovo-spiculate character prevails more 

 or less in all the spicula, but is more distinctly produced in those 

 of the interstitial membranes, and the secondary dermal defensive 

 ones. I could not detect any gemmules in the piece of sponge 

 sent to me. 



2. Spongilla Dawsoni, Bowerbank. 



Sponge sessile?, branching; surface smooth. Oscula and pores 

 inconspicuous. Dermal and interstitial membranes abundantly 

 spiculous ; spicula fusiformi-acerate, entirely spined ; spines numer- 

 ous, short, and conical. Skeleton-spicula acerate or subfusiform- 

 acerate. Ovaria spherical; dermal spicula numerous, disposed in 

 flat fasciculi, or groups of spicula parallel to each other ; groups 

 irregularly dispersed ; spicula acerate or subcylindrical, entirely 

 spined; spines numerous, obtuse, and ill- defined. Sarcode aspi- 

 culous. 



Color, in the dried state, emerald-green. 



Hah. lliver St. Lawrence, Montreal, Canada (J\Ir. Fowler^ and 

 Rev. A. Kemp) ; a lake near Brockville (^Rev, A, Kemp). 



Examined in the dried state. 



About two years ago I received a small fragment of this species 

 from Dr. Dawson, who stated that it was found in the River St. 

 Lawrence, at Montreal ; but, as the fragment was destitute of 

 gemmules and very small, there were not sufficient characters to 

 warrant a specific description of it. In October 1859 I received 



Vol. I. U No. 4. 



