434 Mr. H. J. Carter on 



To examine a calcareous sponge for description it is neces- 

 sary to sectionize the specimen, so that one part or half may 

 be dried and the other kept wet, ^. e. in a preservative fluid. 

 Thus the sections may be either partial or general, one or more 

 depending on tlie amount of material at command ; but under 

 any circumstances there must be dried sections of the speci- 

 men as well as wet for this purpose. 



■ Where time is not an object, as it is with rae, for I may 

 have little left, inicroscopic sections of dyed portions should be 

 made, since without this a complete description of no sponge 

 can be written. Aly descriptions therefore will be incomplete 

 so far as this goes ; but it is to be hoped that they will fulfil 

 their purpose in other respects, that is in providing an intro- 

 duction to this inquiry for those who may take it up hereafter. 



At first, in the description of a calcareous sponge, the form 

 generally of the specimen should be notified, and, if possible, 

 an accurate sketch of the natural size recorded before it may 

 be disfigured by the sectionizing. Then the colour, both in 

 the fresh and dried states, should be mentioned. After this 

 the surface described, generally and in detail. The pores 

 noticed, and also the vent or vents, as the case may be, 

 followed by the cloaca. All this may be regarded as 

 belonging to the general form, outwardly and inwardly. 

 After which the internal structure, viz. that which is situated 

 between the skeletal layer of the surface on the outside and 

 that of the cloaca on the inner side, should be described in 

 detail. Finally the spiculation or spicules, generally and 

 particularly, followed by the size of the specimen, its habitat, 

 locality, and any further observations that may be desirable. 

 At least this is the plan that will be adopted in my descrip- 

 tions. 



In describing the "form " it may be necessary to use the 

 words "individualized" or "agglomerated," the former 

 meaning single or complete in itself, the latter in plurality 

 and more or less sunk into a general mass. Again, the 

 former may be " solitary," that is when alone, or " social," 

 when accompanied by others of the same kind, young or old. 

 Of course the " description " of the " form " can only apply to 

 the specimen in hand, unless there are sufficient examples to 

 afford an average. 



In the matter of colour, which is generally the same, I 

 would premise here that this is some shade of " white " or 

 " sponge-brown," approaching more or less to that of snow, 

 as in LeuGonia nivea, Bk. [Leucandra nivea, H.), and that 

 when dry the exposed parts, viz. the surface and the cloaca, 

 are always whiter than the internal structure, on account of 



