1887.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 185 



Skeleton spicules smooth, straight or slightly curved, rather 

 abruptly j)ointed ; an occasional one acuate or malformed. 



Outer dermal film charged with minute, straight or curved, 

 smooth, slender, gradually pointed acerates. 



Approximate measurements. — Diameter of gemmules 0'02 inches. 



Skeleton spicules 0"0118 by O'OOOoo inches. Length of dermal 

 spicules ()-()0144 inches. 



Habitat. Upon logs and timbers several feet below the surface 

 t'f clear standing water, or upon sphagnimi, grass, weeds etc. near 

 the surface. 



Locality. Collected at Doughty's Pond, Absecum, New Jersey ; 

 Brown's Mills, N. J.; Deep Creek near Portsmouth, Virginia etc. 



Remarks. — This sponge was first collected by Mr. E. P. Cheyney, 

 a very acute observer, during the summer of 1879 or 1880 in one 

 of the Cedar swamps, near the New Jersey coast. In October 1881, 

 the writer himself collected it, and since that date it has been the 

 subject of frequent and careful observations. Doubt was at first 

 felt as to whether the apparent branches Avere really self-supporting; 

 l)ut this was long since set at rest and the species is now seen to 

 stand securely near S. lacustris, but not o/ it. Some interest may 

 be felt in the following description of its favorite and characteristic 

 locality. 



The S. E. portion of the State of New Jersey is, for the most part. 

 a broad sandy plain, not greatly elevated above tide level. It was 

 formerly covered by a dense growth, chiefly of "scrub" pines, and 

 was known as the "Pine Barrens." The few depressions through 

 tliis district form water courses, along which the drainage of the 

 surrounding neighborhood creeps sullenly, through jungles of 

 cedar mingled with maple, magnolia, and other deciduous growths. 

 Just before Absecum Creek, which has thus wandered for miles 

 through densely wooded cedar and maple swamps, finally loses its 

 identity in the "Thoroughfare," that winds for many a mile among 

 the still flatter marsh lands that line the coast, a low mill-dam 

 checks its course, and forces it to spread its clear, dark waters over 

 acres of refreshing pools, dotted with reed-fringed islets. Here, in 

 clumps, grow the curious leaves and nmbrella-like flowers of the 

 American Pitcher Plant; on the margin of the pond are many 

 orchids, those most aristocratic of flowers; in the hollows the Droseras 

 or Sundews are doing their best to entrap a few of our insect 

 enemies. The trees, that, years before, had darkened the glen with 



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