LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 15 



and the sponge proper. The lover ends of the strands of the 

 "rope" are barbed in a peculiar manner, as may be seen under 

 the microscope. 



Slides of the spicules were also shown under the microscope, of 

 which there seem to be a great variety, the most noteworthy being 

 the double-ended, six-bladed, battleaxe-form and the four-i'ayed 

 star with the barbed spur. Tliere also appears to be a smaller 

 double mushroom anchor form and many straight spines. The 

 spicules polarize light but sliglitly, and appear to have an organic 

 nucleus or centre core. 



Prof. A. Dend}'-, Sec.L.S., spoke on the history of these 

 sponges, and the original erroneous ideas entertained concerning 

 their nature and mode of growth. He further displayed illus- 

 trations from various sources in support of his statements. 



March 7th, 1912. 



Dr. D. H. Scott, M.A., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the General Meeting of the loth Pebruary, 

 1912, were read and confirmed. 



Mr. AUeyne Leechman and Dr. Charles Edward Moss wei'e 

 proposed as Fellows, and Dr. Hermann Christ-Sociu as a Foreign 

 Member. 



Mr. Charles Gumming Calder, B.Sc, Mr. Thomas Alfred 

 Dymes, Mr. Thomas Maldon Fitch, Miss Clara Ethelinda Larter, 

 Miss Maud Samuel, B.Sc, and Mr. David George Stead were 

 elected Fellows. 



The names of Mr. Arthur Patterson and Mr. Charles Davies 

 Sherborn uere submitted to a ballot for the vacant Zoological 

 Associateship. The ballot having been closed, the President 

 nominated Mr. A. D. Michael, Dr. W. T. Caiman, and Dr. A. P. 

 Young, Scrutineers ; these having examined the Ballot-papers and 

 reported to the President, he declared that Mr. Charles Davies 

 Sherborn had been elected an Associate. 



The President announced the death of Mr. Alfred Fryer, A.L.S. 



Prof. Perct Gkoom read a paper entitled "Note on the 

 Internodes of CalamitesP 



A discussion followed, in which the following took part : — 

 Prof. F. W. Oliver, Dr. Marie Stopes, Mr. Clement Reid, and the 

 President, the author replying. 



Miss Ethel M. Phillips exhibited a portfolio of water-colour 

 drawings, and explained that they were made duriug a recent 



