INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF VINEYARD SOUND, ETC. 741 



vol. ii, p. 29G, [Plate 51, figs. l^-V, Plate 18, fig. 9, 1872. Sioiujia coronata 

 Ellis aucl Solancler, ZoopLytes, p. 190, Plate 58, figs. 8, 9. Grantia coronata 

 Hassall, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. vi, p. 174. 



Ehode Islaud to Greenlaud ; northern coasts of Europe. Common in 

 Casco Bay and Bay of Fundy, low-water to 60 fathoms; Vineyard 

 Sound, not uncommon. Point Judith, Ehode Island (Leidy). 



? Leucosolenia botryoides Boweibauk. (p. 500.) 



Biit. Spoug., vol. ii, p. 28, 1866. Spongla holnjoides Ellis and Solander, Zooph., 

 p. 190, Plato 58, figs. 1-4, 1786. Grantia lotryokles Fleiuiiig, Brit. Auiui., p. 

 525; Jobnstou, op. cit., p. 178, Plate 21, figs. 1-5. Ascaltis botryoides Hteckel, 

 op. cit., vol. ii, p. 65, Plate 9, fig. 10, Plate 10, figs. I'^-l^. 



Martha's Vineyard to Gulf of Saint Lawrence -, northern coasts of 

 Europe to England and France. 



I refer some of our larger specimens to this species with considerable 

 doubt. They appear to be distinct from the following species, with which 

 the}' have formerly been confounded. 



AscoRTis FRAGiLis Htieckel. 



Op. cit., vol. ii, p. 74, Plate 11, figs. 5-9, Plate 12, figs. .5»-5'. 1872. Leucosolenia 

 thamnoides ILeckel, Pi'odroni., p. 243, spec. 70. Leucosolenia hotryoides H. J. 

 Clark, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. i, part 3, p. 323, (sep. copies, p. 19) 

 Plate 9, figs. 40-44, Plate 10, fig. 64, 1863 (not oi Bowerbank) ; this Report' 

 pp. 334, .391. Grantia hotryoides Leidy, op. cit., p. 135, 1855. 



Long Island Sound to Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Western coast of 

 Korway, at Bergen, etc. (Hreckel). Common in Long Island Sound, near 

 K"ew Haven, at Thimble Islands, etc.; Watch Hill, Ehode Island ; Vine- 

 yard Sound ; Casco Bay, etc. j\iissachusetts Bay (II. J. Clark). 



HoBckel names the form figured by Clark var. hijida. 



SILICEA. 



MiCROCiONA PROLIFERA Verrill. 



Sponcjia prolifera Ellis and Solander, Zoopjiytes, p. 189, Plato 58, fig. 5, 1786; 

 Lamouronx, Expos. M6tliodique, p. 31, Plate .58, fig. 5. Red sponge, this Re- 

 port, pp. 330, 409, 476. 



This species, when young, forms broad, thin, bright red incrustations 

 over the surfaces of stones and shells. In this stage it agrees well with 

 the British species of Microciona described by Bowerbank, all of which 

 are said to be iucrusting forms. Our species, at a later period, rises up 

 into irregular lobes a)Kl tubercular prominences, which eventually be- 

 come elongated and subdivided into slender branches, until they often 

 form a profusely and intricately branched sponge, frequently six inches 

 high and as much in diameter. The branches are repeatedly dichoto- 

 mous, more or less flattened, and often digitate or palmate at the ends. 

 They also frequently anastomose irregularly. The branches, when dry, 

 are brittle and hispid. They consist of stout, horny fibers, which radiate 

 outward and upward from the axis to the periphery, terminating in 



