Mr. T. Higgin on Labaria hemispheerica. 385 
end at the summit in a little conical point, affords ample 
opportunity in /. lusttanicum to search for the  spinicruces ” 
throughout its whole length within the sponge-head ; for it 
is covered, even to the end of the “conical point,” with the 
sponge-structure, especially the little dermal plumose spicule, 
though I cannot detect the “spimicruces” in any part of the 
cord or sponge-head above the place indicated. 
Moreover, where the Polype is present, it is the sarcodic 
layer immediately in contact with the cord which is so densely 
charged with those beautiful little spined sexradiates, and 
which, in some instances, evidently extends downwards beyond 
the integument of the Polype; so that altogether the Polype 
must be considered to have no part in their production, while 
the “spinicruces”’ must therefore be viewed as the hexactinellid 
form of spicule (with its variations) peculiar to the sarcodie 
investment of the cord. 
Lubaria hemispherica, Gray. Pl. XXII. fig. 3. 
This species has already been described by Mr. H. J. Carter 
(‘Annals,’ 1873, ser. 4, vol. x1. p. 275), from the sponge named 
by the late Dr. J. EK. Gray in his communication published 
in the same volume at page 235. Mr. Carter, however, soon 
became aware that the specimen placed in his hands for de- 
scription was not in its natural state; and the discovery that 
the brush-lke appendage apparently growing out from the 
centre of the base had been artificially placed there, and was 
made up of spicules belonging to quite another species, led 
him to think that the whisker-like spicules standing out from 
the sides of this specimen of Labaria were probably also a 
native’s fancy. It is fortunate therefore that a good specimen 
has now been brought to this country, with the anchoring- 
spicules 7 stu, and without the “ fraudulent tuft” which the 
British-Museum sponge possesses. In Mr. Carter’s descrip- 
tion, the ‘locality’ whence Dr. Meyer’s sponge was 
obtained is thus stated, viz. “ Unknown, from Singapore ;” 
but it was subsequently observed by Dr. Meyer (‘Annals,’ 
1874, ser. 4, vol. xiii. p. 66) that it was procured “from the 
reefs in the sea near the village of Talisay, on the island of 
Cebu, Philippine Islands ;” and in explanation of the arti- 
ficial condition of the sponge, im a letter to Dr. Gray (cid. 
p- 188), he explains that his “ Malay boy was charged with 
the business,” and that ‘‘ he or the fishermen may have done 
the mischief.” Dr. Meyer does not seem to have been present 
when the specimen was got up; but he adds that it was 
obtained from the same ground as “ Meyerina claveformis, 
Crateromorpha Meyer?, and Rossella philippinensis.” 
