136 THE ATLANTIC. [CHaP. 11. 
edged by an elegant frill. The mouth is closed by a wide- 
meshed netted lid. The walls of the tube are formed by a 
number of parallel longitudinal bands of glassy siliceous fibres 
closely united together by a cement of silica, and a series of 
like bands running round the tube, and thus cutting the longi- 
tudinal bands at right angles and forming a square-meshed net. 
The corners of the squares are then filled in with a minute ir- 
regular fret-work of siliceous tubing, and the openings in the 
wall of the sponge become rounded. Ornamental ridges of the 
same fine fret-work are arranged in irregular spirals on the out- 
er surface, and round the bottom of the tube a fringe rises of 
glistening threads of silica four or five inches long. 
In 1859, Professor Owen described what he considered a see- 
ond species of the same genus, Huplectella cucumer, from a 
beautiful specimen procured by Dr. Arthur Farre from the 
Seychelles. In form, Dr. Farre’s specimen was more inflated, 
more like a cucumber, as its name implies; but in minute struct- 
ure the two are identical, and I believe they are merely varie- 
ties. For many years these two specimens of the two forms, 
one in the British Museum, and the other in the possession of 
Dr. Farre, remained unique. A sponge existed in the gallery 
in the Jardin des Plantes, procured in the Moluccas during the 
voyage of the Astrolabe, and figured, but not described, by Quoy 
and Gaimard, which had been confused with Huplectella; but a 
careful examination of the Paris specimen showed that, although 
belonging to the same group of sponges, it was generically dif- 
ferent, and I described it under the name of Habrodictyon. 
Some years ago, some fine specimens of Huplectella aspergu- 
Zum found their way into the London market, and on account 
of their great beauty brought high prices. When the principal 
museums, and the amateurs who will have what they fancy at 
any price, were supplied, specimens were still to be had among 
the dealers, and at greatly reduced prices ; and finally, when the 
demand for scientific purposes had nearly ceased, and it was 
