250 Transactions of the [Montaly sereanece 
tension spicula, and are met with singly or in bundles of two or 
three together in the substance of the sarcode; occasionally, the 
dentato-peltate structure is replaced by a simple series of recurved 
hooks (see Fig. 22), and every gradation between the two varieties 
may be detected. Another minute and beautiful form of frequent 
occurrence must be referred to the “ spinulo-quadrifurcate hexradiate 
stellate” type of Dr. Bowerbank: an illustration of this form is 
given at Fig. 24. Simple attenuate, free, hexradiate stellate spicula 
are also abundant, these often having the basal extremity of the 
perpendicular shaft slightly inflated as at Fig. 28. I devote this 
species to my esteemed friend and colleague, Mr. Henry Woodward. 
To this new genus, Aulodictyon, must be referred the species 
figured and described by Dr. Oscar Schmidt as Farrea fecunda, 
the primary characters being essentially in harmony with those 
applied to the species just described, and only differing in detail. In 
Aulodictyon fecunda (Farrea, ditto, O. Sch.) the interspaces formed 
by the reticulations of the basal skeleton are more regularly quad- 
rate, and of much larger size than in my species; the reticulations 
-are also more distinctly canaliculated, and their “bosses” present 
the same imbricated or fir-cone like appearance characteristic of 
Farrea occa, while in A. Woodwardi the canaliculi are very ob- 
scure, and the “bosses” of the reticulations are perfectly smooth. 
The spicula of the sarcode also differ specifically. I have not suc- 
ceeded in detecting in my last-named species the attenuate forms 
with one extremity acutely digitate figured by Dr. Schmidt as cha- 
racteristic of Awlodictyon fecunda, and the minute spinulo hexra- 
diate spicula of his appear to have their terminations trifureate 
instead of quadrifurcate as in mine. 
Dactylocalyx, Stutchbury. 
A representative of this genus has been likewise taken, but I 
have not yet had leisure to determine its specific identity. 
Fieldingia lagettoides, W. 8. Kent, nov. gen. et sp. 
This form is figured and described in the ‘Annals and Magazine 
of Natural History’ for September last. 
In conclusion, I consider it requisite, in the face of the large 
series of this interesting group of sponges I have lately been afforded 
the opportunity of studying, to propose a slight modification of the 
system of classification which has up to the present time been ac- 
cepted, and which, in consideration of the limited number of forms 
known until within a very recent period, was perhaps almost suf- 
ficiently significant. 
Dr. Gray has proposed to distinguish this group by the name 
of the CoraLniosponcim, its essential character being that the 
