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BRITISH FOSSIL SPONGES. 
Schweigger. Fossil calcisponges do not appear to be even named, and 
Stromatopora is still retained in the Sponges. 
. 1885 Sortas, W. J. On the Physical Characters of Calcareous and Siliceous 
Sponge-spicules and other Structures (Scientific Proc. Royal Dublin 
Soc., n. s., vol. 4, pp. 874—392, Pl. XV). 
Describes methods for determining the refractive-index and specific gravity 
of spicules of siliceous and calcareous sponges; treats also of the optic axis 
and angles of extinction, and of the effects of etching of calcisponge spicules. 
States that the Pharetrones must now be relegated to the Calcispongie ; but 
Pharetrospongia is certainly a siliceous Sponge. Many spicules of calcisponges 
are shown to be elliptical in transverse section. 
. 1885 Sortas, W. J. On an Hexactinellid Sponge from the Gault, and a 
Lithistid from the Lias of England (Scientific Proc. Royal Dublin Soc., 
vol. 4, pp. 443—446, Pl. XXI). 
Describes as new species Platychonia Brodiet and Craticularia calathus. 
Figures are given of their form and structures. 
. 1885 Sottas, W. J. On Vetulina stalactites, O. Schmidt, and the Skeleton of 
the Anomocladina (Proc. foy. Ir. Acad., 8. 2, vol. iv, pp. 486—492, 
Piss Wh; TV). 
Shows that the elementary spicules of this recent species consist, as 
O. Schmidt described them, of central nodes from which a variable number of 
rays extend, and concludes that the spicules of Astylospongia and other fossil 
Anomocladina are of a similar character. The views of Zittel that the 
elementary spicules of this family are simple rodlike spicules with branching 
extremities are thus shown to be untenable. Gives a fresh definition of the 
family Anomocladina, similar to that first proposed by Zittel in the ‘ Studien.’ 
. 1885 Poora, P. Ueber zwei neue Spongien aus der béhmischen Kreideforma- 
tion (Sitzwngsb. d. k. bohm. Gesell. der. Wiss. sep.copy, pp. 1—7, Pl. 1). 
Describes and figures as two new species Casearia cretacea and Verrucocelia 
uveformis. 
. 1885 Kayser, EH. Lodanella mira, eme unterdevonische Spongie (Zeitsch. d. 
deutsch. geol. Gesell., pp. 207—211, Pl. XIV). 
The form thus named consists of the negative casts of a funnel-shaped 
body whose walls were penetrated by anastomosing canals. No structure 
whatever has been preserved, and the character of the organism cannot 
therefore be determined. 
