MEMOIRS. 



Notes on Sponges. — 1. On Hyalonema mirabilis. Gray. 

 — 2. On Aphrocallistes Bocagei, sp. nov. — 3. On a 

 new Genus and species of Deep Sea Sponge. By Ed. 

 Perceval Wright, A.M., M.D., F.L.S., Professor of 

 Botany, Dublin University. (Plates I, II, and III.) 



1. Hyalonema mirabiUs, Gray. (Plate III.) 



So much is now known of a deep sea fauna tliat one is 

 very apt to forget how little was known about it just eighteen 

 months ago. It is quite true that here and there stray facts 

 were to be met with that most distinctly showed that animal 

 life was to be found at very great depths of the ocean, not 

 to mention the important researches of Sir John and Sir 

 James Koss, or of Dr. Wallich, there were also records of 

 the occurrence of zoantharian corals, at depths of 300 to 400 

 fathoms, and of fishes taken at depths of 312 fathoms. In- 

 deed, to collect all the scattered observations bearing on this 

 subject would be a work requiring considerable research. 

 But some way or other the true bearing and the extreme 

 importance of all these facts were in a great measure, and by 

 a great many, overlooked ; and the fact that great depths act 

 as no bar to the existence of animal life, however known to a 

 few, and however much it should have been known to all, 

 has only during the last year and a half been fully recog- 

 nised. 



Accustomed to dredge in what will be now considered the 

 trifling depths of from 80 to 100 fathoms, I learnt with some 

 surprise of the deep sea fishing for sharks at Setubal in depths 

 of from 300 to 400 fathoms ; and when my friend Professor 

 Bocage, of Lisbon, told me of the discovery of quite recent 

 specimens of Hyalonema mirabilis in these same depths, 

 I had a great wish to go and investigate the fact for my- 

 self. The prevalent opinion, however, at the time about the 

 discovery of the Hyalonema ofi" the coast of Portugal was, 

 that the specimens taken by the Setubal fishermen were stray 



VOL. X. — NEW SER. a 



