46 JOURNAL OF THE [February, 



DIMENSIONS OF SPICULES OF HETEROMEYENl A RYUERI. 



Mr. Hyatt had measured the spicules of Heteronieyenia Ryderi, 

 and he gave the result, as follows: — 



Largest pointed spicules: average length, xhaih. of an inch. 



Grappling-hook spicules: average length, yfffths of an inch. 



Short birotulate spicules: length, from xoVuth to riifuths of an 

 inch. 



Wheels of short birotulate spicules: average diameter, rcFOTrffths 

 of an inch. 



OBSERVATIONS ON FRESH-WATER SPONGE. 



Mr. Hyatt said that fresh-water sponge — but not of the species 

 exhibited by Mr. Devoe — abounds in the Bronx River, attach- 

 ing itself to sunken brush-wood; also, that it occurs in great 

 quantity in the Erie Canal. 



The President: " There is a vigorous growth of sponge on the 

 filter-beds through which passes the water-supply of Pough- 

 keepsie; and, at one time, the decay of the gelatinous substance 

 of the sponge imparted to the water an unsavory taste." 



Mr. Devoe (in response to, an inquiry): "My specimen was 

 mounted dry, after maceration in dilute nitric acid. By such 

 maceration some of the spicules are, it is true, disengaged from 

 the statosphere; but, when caution is exercised, enough sp cules 

 are left to show with how great beauty they are distributed 

 over the surface of the sphere. For the discovery of the full 

 beauty of an individual spicule, a high-power lens is necessary." 



Dr. Bates: "I have been informed by Mr. Henry Mills, of 

 Buffalo, that for a permanent mount of fresh-water sponge, car- 

 bolic acid is the best medium." 



Mr. Balen: "This sponge will keep indefinitely when once 

 dried. The animal matter decays; the rest remains. The gen- 

 eral shape of the sponge is preserved, and the spicules are left 

 undisturbed." 



TAXUS BREVIFOLIA. 



Mr. Zabriskie: " Taxus brevifolia is a remarkably dense and 

 durable wood. My section of it shows the spiral fibres of the 

 wood-cells in great abundance." 



LEUCOPHYLLUM TEXANUM. 



Mr. Schultze: " The hairs on the leaf of Leiicophyllum Texanum 



