Mr. H. J. Carter on the Freshwater Sponges of Bombay. 88 
of its texture, and the smallness of its seed-like bodies and 
spicula. 
2. Sp. friabilis ? Lam.—Amorphous, surface irregularly con- 
vex, presenting low ridges or emimences. Vents situated on the 
latter, large, crateriform. Colour bright green on the surface, 
faintly yellow towards the interior. ‘Growing in circumscribed 
masses on fixed bodies, or enveloping floating objects; seldom 
attaining more than 2 inches in thickness. Texture loose, friable. 
Structure confusedly fibrous, reticulate, sometimes radiated. Seed- 
like bodies spheroidal, about z'5th of an inch im diameter, pre- 
senting smooth points externally. Spicula of two kinds, large 
and small ; large spicula slightly curved, smooth, pointed at both 
ends, about hth of an inch in length ; small spicula also slightly 
curved, smooth, pointed at each end, about zo_th of an inch in 
length. (Plate III. fig. 3.) 
Hab. Sides of freshwater tanks in the island of Bombay, on 
rocks, stenes or gravel ; or temporarily on floating objects ; sel- 
dom covered by water more than six months in the year. 
Observations.—The colour of this species is bright green when 
fresh, but this fades after it becomes dry. It seldom throws up 
projections much beyond its surface ; does not appear to be in- 
clined to spread much ; and is matted and confused in its struc- 
ture towards its base and round its seed-lke bodies. From the 
other sponges it is distinguished by the smooth spicula which 
surround its seed-like bodies and the matted structure Just men- 
tioned. Its green colour combined with the smoothness of its 
spicula, both large and small, is useful in distinguishing it from 
the other species, but without the latter it is deceptive, because 
Sp. alba and Sp. plumosa become green under certain circum- 
stances. It appears to be Sp. friabilis, Lam., from no mention 
having been made by Dr. Grant (in his description of this spe- 
cies*) of the presence of any but smooth poimted spicula in it, 
and the appearance of “ transparent points” studding the surface 
of its seed-like bodies, which is not observable in any of the other 
species, wherein the small spicula are spiniferous or stelliferous. 
3. Sp. alba, n. s.—F lat or elevated, surface slightly convex, 
presenting gentle eminences and depressions or irregularly formed 
projections. Vents large, scattered. Colour yellow, growing 
horizontally, in circumscribed masses or in irregular patches, 
encrusting objects, seldom attaining more than an inch in thick- 
ness. ‘Texture coarse, open. Structure reticulated. Investing 
membrane abounding in minute spicula. Seed-like bodies sphe- 
roidal, about 345th of an inch in diameter, presenting rough points 
externally. Spicula of two kinds, large and small; large spicula 
* Edinb, Phil. Trans. vol. xiv, pp. 274 and 279. 
6* 
