Jeffries.] 76 [May 6, 



Dr. B. Joy Jeffries exliibitecT specimens of the Euplectella 

 speciosa, or Venus Flower Basket, presented to the Society 

 by Mr. H. U. Jeffi-ies of Manila. 



He also read extracts from the accounts of its structure given by 

 Professor Owen and Dr. Gray. The sponge, which is siliceous and 

 attached by its expanded base to some marine body, is suj)portetl by 

 a tubular skeleton, made up of numerous elongated fibres; theSLj 

 fibres consist of fascicules of very slender spicules, and are crossed by 

 similar fascicules, forming together an elaborate network; other filires 

 produce concentric and oblique ridges across the outside of the tube, 

 and the tube itself is finally covererl with a network lid formed of 

 bundles of shorter spicules; the pi-ocesses of spinning and weaving 

 appear to be simultaneous. 



Many of the specimens have a crustacean in the base of the tube, 

 which has given rise to a popular beUef that tlie case is spun by this 

 animal, and larger prices are demanded by the dealers tor specimens 

 containing the crustaceans. The first specimen taken to England was 

 sold for thirty pounds; but they have since become moi'e common, 

 and can now be obtained tor a few shillings. 



Mr. W. T. Brighani presented by title a communication 

 on liesperomannia arborescens, a curious Labiatiflora, dis- 

 covered by Mr. Horace Mann on Lanai, one of the Hawai- 

 ian Islands, and deseril)ed by Dr. Gray as a new genus,^ 

 which he named in honor of tlie discoverer. This curious 

 Composita was foimd at an elevation of twenty-three hun- 

 dred feet, and only one tree was seen. This was about 

 twenty fcet high, divaricately branched, and bearing .sc\eral 

 flowerheads at the end of the branches.'- The flowers are of 

 a brilliant yellow, Avith a tawny ])a])i)us. This new genus 

 is esjH'cially interesting .as the oidy arborescent Composita 

 known on the Polynesian Islands. HesjieiTunaimia docs not 

 occur on the elevated plateau of Hawaii, a region abounding 

 in Composite, but it is probable that it may be found on 

 Molokai and Maui, islands closely adjoining Lanai, and not 

 yet fully explored. A })late accompanied the communica- 

 tion. 



1 Procecdiiifis Aiiiciicaii Acadpmy, vi, p. 554. 



- Emim. Huuaiiaii I'Juiits, I'roceod. Aiuer. Acad, vii, ]>. 176. 



