Sponges from South Australia. 147 



description, I. c). Thus we have no longer any cortical dif- 

 ferentiation on the surface, nor any cloacal cavity interiorly, 

 but a so far simplified structure that it becomes identical with 

 that of the common run of wo?i-calcareous sponges. 



There are several specimens of this sponge in Mr. Wilson's 

 collection, all more or less like that which I have described 

 {I.e.), viz. the largest averaging 3 inches high in their present 

 state, that is after having been broken otf from their base of 

 attachment, by 5 x 5 horizontally, formed as usual of an erect, 

 thick, interfolded lamina with round undulating border in 

 which the vents are situated. When fresh these specimens 

 are said to have pi'csented a " greenish-slate and reddish- 

 brown tint below," now whitish yellow throughout. 



In the paper on the " TeichonellidEe," to which I Jiave 

 alluded, will be found another species under the name of T. 

 lahyrinthica, which, through ]\Ir. Wilson's specimens, I have 

 now found to be so nearly allied in structure and general 

 character to Grantia compressa, that it has been considered 

 desirable to remove it from the I'dchonellidas to the vicinity 

 of that sponge, where my reasons for so doing have been more 

 particularly stated {supra, p. 38) . 



Parasitic Cell in Teichonella prolifera. 

 One of the specimens of Teichonella prolifera is remarkable 

 for being densely charged with the minute nucleated cell, like 

 the human blood-globule, which, in my paper on the Parasites 

 of the Spongidffi ('Annals,' 1878, vol. ii, p. 165), I have 

 described under the name of " Palmella spongiarum.^^ Be- 

 sides being in size and shape like the human blood-globule, it 

 in like manner presents a ^>»»?/i; tinge, whereby a white sponge, 

 when dry, such as Halichondria panicea, Bk., wherein 1 first 

 found it at this place (Budleigh- Salter ton, Devon), becomes 

 coloured by it ; and this may account for the " reddish- 

 brown" tint when fresh to which I have alluded. Moreover, 

 this parasite forms half the substance of an incrusting form 

 of an Ajyli/sina covering a mussel-shell which is among 

 Mr. Wilson's collections ; and the same is the case with a 

 specimen of Esperia, from S.W. Australia, which I previously 

 possessed ; so that its existence is general. 



Summarily it might be stated that Mr. Bracebridge Wilson's 

 collection of S. Australian calcareous sponges has been suffi- 

 cient to lead us from the simplest structure to one which is 

 identical with that of the ordinary run of non-calcareous 

 sponges, and that therefore, however much it may be desired 

 to make the former a distinct '' class," tiiese facts do not 

 justify such a conclusion. 



lO'^ 



