28 
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BRITISH FOSSIL SPONGES. 
1877 Martin, K. Untersuchungen iiber die Organization von Astylospongia, 
F. Roemer (Archiv des Ver. der Freunde der Naturges. in Mecklenburg, 
Jahrg. xxxi, pp. 1—82, Pl. 1). 
Gives a lucid description of the canal-system, and points out that the 
number of the rays given off from each of the spicular nodes of the skeleton 
is not definitely six, as stated by Roemer, but that it varies from six to nine, 
and their arrangement is also without definite order; consequently the rela- 
tionship between this genus and typical hexactinellids is somewhat doubtful. 
. 1876-78 Quernstept, F. A. Petrefactenkunde Deutschlands, Bd. V. Korallen 
(Schwiimme), pp. 1—612, with 28 folio plates. 
No systematic arrangement of fossil Sponges is attempted ; they are placed 
as a group under Corals. The descriptions are of a desultory character, and 
treat rather of individual peculiarities than of specific or generic features, and 
the employment of microscopic investigation is deprecated, as leading to 
erroneous ideas. The author gives new terms to genera and species, which in 
his opinion will indicate their characters, and arbitrarily rejects those pre- 
viously applied to them. The main value of the work consists in its excellent 
illustrations of the external features of most of the known forms of fossil 
Sponges. 
. 1878 Carter, H. J. Mr. James Thomson’s Fossil Sponges from the Carboni- 
ferous System of the South-West of Scotland (Ann. and Mag. Nat. 
Hist., 8. 5, vol. i, pp. 128—143, Pls. IX, X). 
Treats first of the character of the spicules in Hyalonema Smithii; then 
points out that, owing to the fragile nature of the skeleton of calcisponges, it 
is almost impossible that Pharetrospongia, Sollas, could ever have belonged to 
this group. Further describes as a new siliceous Sponge Pulvillus Thomsoni, 
which is placed in the Renievida, the form is now calcareous ; and Rhaphidistia 
vermiculata as a laminiform Sponge parasitic on Hydractinia. 
3. 1878 v. Matyasowsxy, J. Hin fossiler Spongit aus dem Karpathensandsteine 
von Kis-Lipmk im Saroser comitate (Glenodictyum carpathicum) 
(Fermesyetragz fiisetek, vol. u, pt. 4, 1878. Verh. der k. k. geolog. 
Reichsan. Wien, p. 405). 
Describes and figures a specimen belonging to the problematical genus, 
Glenodictyum, Marck. 
54. 1878 Youne, J. T. On the occurrence of a Fresh-water Sponge in the Pur- 
beck Limestone (Geol. Mag., n. s., vol. v, p. 220). 
Describes and figures detached acerate microspined spicules in chert of 
fresh-water origin, which are referred to Spongilla purbeckensis. 
