340 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



with the assistance of selenite, the polariscopie effect was very 

 beautiful. 



Strychnia Sulphocyanide Crystals exhibited. — Mr. E. J. Moss 

 exhibited characteristic crystals of strychnia sulphocyanide pre- 

 pared from strychnine, which had been extracted from the con- 

 tents of the stomach of a Newfoundland dog, seven days after 

 death. Mr. Moss stated that with the aid of the microscope, he 

 had applied most conclusive chemical tests to a minute portion of 

 the strychnia, thus being able to reserve the greater portion of 

 it for further examination in case of necessity— an important 

 consideration in toxicological investigations. 



Stauroneis platt/stoma,^\iTenb., exhibited. — Eev. E. O'Meara ex- 

 hibited a form of Stauroneis which he considered ideutical with 

 Stauroneis platystoma, Kl'itz. The figures given by Kiitzing, 

 " Bacill." t. III., f. 58, and by Eabenhorst "Sussw. Diat." t. IX,, 

 f . 2, are very deficient as respects details of striation, but the ex- 

 ternal outline, so diff"erent from all other forms of this genus, 

 renders identification certain. The striation is very fine, linear 

 and slightly radiate. The only place in which specimens of this 

 species were found by Mr. O'Meara was Lough Mask, near 

 Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo. 



A new Minute Fibrous Sponge. — Dr. E. Perceval "Wright ex- 

 hibited a minute sponge, the frame-work of which was chiefly 

 formed of horny or fibrous material, scattered throughout which 

 were a few acerate silicious spicules. The general appearance 

 reminded one of the pentacriuoid stage of Antedon, before the 

 tentacular arms were developed. The cup-shaped portion crowned 

 the summit of a beautifully fashioned stem, which was attached 

 by an expanded disc to the fronds of several species of algae. 

 The cup-shaped portion was more or less spherical, slightly flat- 

 tened at the top and presenting but a single osculum. The stem 

 called to mind a string of Amphitetras-frustules. Whilst it was 

 easy to perceive the affinities of such a sponge, no already formed 

 genus seemed fitted to receive it. The total height of the 

 largest specimen known was from two to three mm. and an 

 apology might be needed to form a genus or species for such an 

 "atom." If but a solitary specimen had turned up, it might 

 have been admired and forgotten, but whilst working up some 

 Algse from Tasmania, again and again either perfect forms or 

 the beheaded stems of this little sponge appeared, showing a per- 

 fect sameness of form and structure, almost too of size. Remem- 

 bering how persistent very minute forms are amongst the cal- 

 careous sponges and that such remain sufiiciently constant to 

 be regarded as species, one gets suffi.cient courage to introduce 

 this as the smallest of all known fibrosilicious sponges, to be 

 described and figured hereafter as Kalispongia Archeri. 



A new Form of Freshwater Amphistomatous Rhizopod exhibited. 

 — Mr. Archer showed two out of five examples (all he had as yet 

 seen) of a new Ehizopodous form taken at " Tooles Eocks," Co. 

 Wicklow. This, but that it was absolutely devoid of any incru^- 



